Salou faced a sharp setback this Wednesday as the Hard Rock project for an entertainment and tourism complex next to Port Aventura hit a snag. The town’s mayor, Pere Granados, played a pivotal role in the turn of events, while an American investment group, reversed its stance toward the proposal. The municipal administration and local authorities in Vila-seca shared responsibility for the decision, and questions are now being directed at higher levels of governance for clarity on funding and approvals.
pomegranaterecently confirmed that he will seek reelection as mayor in a coalition with the PSC. He urged the Generalitat of Catalonia to advance the approval of the Urban Master Plan (PDUs) for the Recreation and Tourism Center (CRT) so that the project can move forward without further delays and provide certainty to the community.
“Burning Remarks”
Currently, the Catalan Government is reviewing sectoral reports from several departments, including Acció Climàtica, which indicate potential hurdles related to mobility and wildlife steps. Yet the administration notes that the process remains sensitive to the status of the Hard Rock project, with observers highlighting how changes at the conselleria could influence the overall timeline.
Eloi Redón, spokesperson for Nature Hard Rock, criticized the mayor of Salou for remarks he described as provocative and aimed at tilting the balance in his favor.
CriterionCaixa land
The development has endured a lengthy series of administrative checks over roughly ten years. The land remains in the possession of CriterionCaixa, the vehicle behind Fundació La Caixa. The landholding company associated with Territori still maintains an active purchase option, though it has not been exercised. In earlier announcements, there were plans for a coordinated sale with Lumine, followed by a sale of the same parcel to Hard Rock at the same price. It has been emphasized that no public funds would be invested by the State in the project.
For weeks, members of Catalonia’s Parliament have pressed questions about the future of the complex. Legislators asked the council member about the status of the PDUs and the project’s progress. Early in November, there were warnings that industry reports were still pending and that the process could not move forward until those reports returned positive. In an interview from October, it was stated that the PDUs were advancing as planned and the operation would be monitored to ensure compliance with statewide policies.