EU declares illegal the charging of tolls on formerly free Portuguese motorways
A new A22 toll charging system to be introduced in 2014 to replace the one implemented less than 2 years ago
Portugal has four times more kilometres of motorway per inhabitant than the UK
FT asks why Portugal spent so much money on motorways only to choke off use with unaffordable tolls
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Two recently published surveys point to an improving picture for the Algarve property market. The 10-10-10 report from ILM Group in conjunction with Property Lynx concludes that a bottom was reached in the first half of 2012 and that the residential tourism sector is beginning to pick up. The RICS/CI Survey for February 2013 covering the whole of the Portuguese housing sector reports that confidence amongst agents is at its highest in two years.
Last August, looking to stimulate its property market as well as its small-to-medium enterprise sector, Portugal introduced a Golden Residency scheme under which a non-EU person can obtain EU residency in return for an investment of €500,000 in property or €1,000,000 in a business.
Continuing its protest against the introduction of the A22 tolls, the Algarve’s Left Bloc is taking to the N125 on 25th July to highlight the many “black spots” and to stress the need for urgent improvements, if the N125 is ever to be a viable toll-free alternative to the A22.
The long-anticipated toll charging system for the Algarve’s A22 motorway came into effect on 8th December 2011. The system covers the length of the A22, but some toll-free, short journeys can be made, particularly between adjacent exits. For example, it is possible to cross the bridge from Spain using the A22 and transfer to the N125, or to travel from Bensafrim to Lagos, without incurring a charge.
Quantitative research has been lacking to support this contention. However, as reported in award winning US blog Jetson Green, recent research conducted by the Earth Advantage Institute, an Oregon-based non-profit organization, found that new homes with a green certification (US Green Building Council’s LEED in this instance), sold for 8 per cent more than new homes without a certification. Moreover, existing homes with a green certification sold for 30 per cent more than homes without such a certification. The research was carried out in several districts in Washington, Oregon, and was based on sales between 1 May, 2010 and 30 April, 2011. While there were differences from district to district, the overall results strongly supported the notion that both new and existing homes with a green certification have higher sale values.
The contribution made by thermal mass is not fully recognisedCensus 2011: the Algarve population has grown by 55,000 in the past 10 years while depopulation of the interior continues.
According to the preliminary results of the 2011 census, the Algarve and Madeira are the two regions of Portugal showing the largest increase in population over the past decade.
On 11th June, Onyria Golf Resorts opened Onyria Palmares Golf, a 27-hole course conceived by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and situated at Palmares in Lagos.
The works on the new golf course were initiated in January, 2009, and represent an investment of 10 million euros.
The inaugural event, a two day “shotgun” tournament, took place on 11th and 12th June. The first day was dedicated to tour operators and journalists, and the second day to corporate guests of Onyria Golf Resorts. Golfers were able to speak directly to the architect Robert Trent Jones Jr., who was present on both days of the event.
Increasingly buying a property overseas for environmental reasons is becoming the norm and that’s exactly what the Keet family did when purchasing their four-bedroom home in AlmaVerde, Western Algarve.
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The following article is written by Gordon Sillence, the London Olympic 2012 Truce Campaign Coordinator
The “500 days to go clock” started for the London 2012 Olympic Games in mid March 2011. That also means there are now less than 500 days to go to plan and implement a credible worldwide 16 day long truce. This article updates the progress towards the successful implementation of the Truce as it is being monitored by Gordon Sillence, who is the coordinator of the London 2012 Olympic Truce Campaign.
Gordon Sillence with Chris Ford at Wellness at AlmaVerde
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