27/06/2013 00:00
TW
0

Palma.—The Conservative MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, Mark Field, joins a long list of foreign property owners who have had problems over the years. Hollywood legend Michael Douglas was fined over work carried out at his rural estate near Valldemossa while tennis star Boris Becker got caught in a planning dispute between Arta Council and the Council of Majorca over an extension made to his property in the municipality. Super model Claudia Schiffer ran into problems with Andratx Council and Sir Richard Branson was prevented from developing the Son Bunyola estate estate into the “most luxurious rural hotel in Europe.” In fact, Branson was so furious over being blocked by the local council and environmentalists that he sold up all his business interests in the island and eventually sold his remaining share in the Son Bunyola estate in 2007, severing all his ties with Majorca.

Mark Field was informed at the end of last week that a 40 square metre annex he has had built on to his Alaro home has to be demolished. He does have five working days to appeal, but his appeal against the initial order given a year ago, failed and it is understood that if Field does try and lodge a second appeal, the council will turn it down. So, not only could the annex be knocked down by as early as next week, Field is also facing a fine of around 20'000 euros. The new PP government has pledged to make planning laws more transparent, a move the real estate sector has welcomed.