Court halts demolition of Metro shopping centre in Playa del Inglés
The demolition of the Metro shopping centre in Playa del Inglés has been put on hold after a court ordered the precautionary suspension of the demolition notice issued by San Bartolomé de Tirajana Town Hall.
The decision was taken by the Court of Las Palmas, which has temporarily frozen the demolition order approved by the council in September 2022 and later confirmed in March 2025. The ruling supports an appeal lodged on 29th October by the company Esquina Alemana S.L., along with other owners who still operate businesses within the complex, arguing that the building should not be demolished until a final decision is made on whether the official declaration of ruin is legally valid.
While the legal process continues, the community of property owners has again warned of what it describes as an “extremely serious and dangerous situation” for anyone entering the premises. They have urged San Bartolomé de Tirajana Town Hall to evacuate, close and seal off the building. The council, however, maintains that “nothing can be done” while the case remains before the courts.
In an order dated 9th December, Judge Ángel Teba drew a distinction between “imminent ruin” and “ordinary ruin”. He noted that the council declared the Metro centre to be in a situation of ordinary ruin, which does not require immediate demolition. According to the judge, this means the demolition can be suspended without causing serious harm to the public interest, allowing the owners’ appeal to proceed without losing its purpose.
The ruling states that demolishing the building at this stage would cause irreversible harm to the claimants before a final judgment is issued. However, the judge made it clear that the suspension does not relieve the council of its responsibility to monitor the building. The local authority must continue to supervise the structure and, if conditions worsen and a real risk to public safety emerges, it would still be able to order urgent measures or even a full demolition, independently of the ongoing court case.
The decision alters what some owners had described as an “administrative limbo” following the council’s March 2025 decision to reaffirm the declaration of ruin after rejecting an initial appeal by Esquina Alemana S.L. That ruling was based on technical reports concluding that rehabilitation would cost more than 74% of the value of a new build, exceeding the legal limit for conservation. Inspections also identified a lack of fire safety measures, evacuation problems and structural deficiencies that posed a risk to public safety.
The community of owners has repeatedly highlighted the dangerous condition of the site. Despite access being officially prohibited, they report that people continue to enter, move around, live in and sleep inside the building. They also warn that the community currently has no insurance cover in the event of an accident or incident.
For this reason, they have sent at least five formal requests to the council calling for the evacuation, fencing and sealing of the complex. The most recent request was submitted on 19th September 2025, echoing earlier submissions made in May 2024, October 2023 and March 2022, none of which resulted in the measures being applied.
The Metro shopping centre has effectively been in a state of ruin for more than 14 years. Its decline began in 2011 after a fire damaged the lower levels, followed by a second blaze in 2013 in one of the rooftop nightclubs. These incidents led to most of the complex being sealed off and abandoned.
Built in 1974 on a 5,888-square-metre plot in the heart of the tourist area of Playa del Inglés, close to the Ecumenical Temple El Salvador, the centre now has only a supermarket and four small businesses still operating at street level. Inside, its three basement floors are completely abandoned, have previously been occupied unlawfully, and suffer from serious structural risks.
As commercial activity declined, the owners requested an official declaration of ruin. After an initial legal process, the High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands ruled in 2021 to overturn a municipal decree that had denied this status. The council subsequently published the declaration of ruin in September 2022. That decision triggered a second legal challenge by Esquina Alemana S.L., which has now resulted in the current precautionary suspension.
The ruling also highlights deep divisions within the community of owners. In June 2025, they approved a special levy of €800,000 to fund demolition, but this was later frozen due to a lack of formal notification from the council and resistance from some owners to contribute. Sources within the community say that later estimates showed the amount would be insufficient, as demolition would need to be followed by reconstruction. “Many owners are not willing to put in more money,” they said, noting that many units have been closed for 10 to 12 years.
Some owners say they have already obtained quotes for demolition costing around €350,000 and are prepared to proceed if the council issues a final order. “If the council does it, even better, but we are willing to carry it out ourselves if authorised,” they said.
For now, the court’s decision means that the deteriorating structure of the Metro shopping centre will remain standing for an indefinite period. What was once seen as a problem of administrative delays has evolved into a long-running legal battle, leaving the future regeneration of one of the most sought-after plots in Playa del Inglés uncertain.
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