Following the 19 August Câmara Meeting: Questions Remain

Following the community gathering outside Lagos City Hall on 19 August, members of the public attended the subsequent Câmara Municipal de Lagos meeting and raised questions concerning the proposed development at Meia Praia.

Lawyer Alexandra Soares questioned the circumstances surrounding the authorization of excavation works at the proposed hotel site.

According to the documentation she reviewed, the architectural project for the hotel was approved in November 2025 subject to approval of the process concerning rehabilitation of the lagoon. She states that this process remains ongoing.

On 6 August 2026, a special authorization was issued allowing excavation works to proceed, with works expected to begin on 1 September.

Alexandra notes that Article 81 of the Portuguese Legal Regime for Urbanisation and Building (RJUE) can allow certain works to begin before the construction licence has been issued where the architectural project has already been approved.

Her questions therefore focus not simply on whether that legal mechanism exists, but on why it was used in this particular case while the process concerning rehabilitation of the lagoon remains unresolved.

Among the questions raised were:

• What technical or other reasons justified authorizing excavation before the construction licence?

• What considerations led the President of the Câmara to approve the authorization?

• Can it be ensured that excavation will not interfere with whatever conditions may ultimately be imposed for rehabilitation of the lagoon?

• Are those conditions already known?

• Given the environmental history of the lagoon, should particular caution be exercised before works proceed?

During the meeting, the President stated that the municipal technical services had not identified a problem with excavation proceeding and that the municipality was awaiting APA's position concerning the basin. He also stated that the hotel would ultimately have to comply with the conditions established for the lagoon.

Following the meeting, Alexandra has questioned whether that response adequately explains the decision to allow excavation to begin while those conditions remain unresolved.

The discussion also covered the historical development rights associated with the site, infrastructure, planning decisions and the process by which urban-development decisions have been taken.

The 19 August meeting provided important additional information. It also demonstrated why continued public scrutiny, access to information and transparent discussion about the future of Meia Praia matter.

We will continue to share relevant information and documentation as it becomes available.