An entire urbanisation of around 40 properties in the village of Palau-Saverdera, in the Alt Empordà region of Catalonia, north of Barcelona, must be demolished before 5 December, the High Court of Catalonia (TSJC) has ruled. Demolition work is set to begin after the summer, reports the Spanish press.

Not far inland from the Costa Brava, the Sun Village urbanisation is predominantly holiday homes owned by a mixture of nationalities, mainly British and Dutch. Only 8 families are reported to live their year round.

The court ruled that Sun Village was illegally built on land zoned for a hotel. If demolition goes ahead, the owners will seek damages of 12 million Euros, or 310,000 Euros per property, according to press reports.

Narcís Deusedas, the Mayor of Palau-Saverdera for the last 30 years, claims he is doing everything he can to fight the demolition order, though it was he who granted illegal planning permission in 2001.

Deusedas warns that the municipal budget can’t afford the costs of either demolition or compensation. “It would be a death sentence for the village,” he told the Spanish press.