Much has been said in the British press about the land grab by some Spanish Authorities.

What is the Land Grab?

The Spanish provinces all have an option in their land laws, the LRAU,  to allow developers to "Compulsory Purchase" land that will make up part of an approved development. If the owner is unwilling to sell, they can be forced to pay part of the cost of the development infrastructure.

The only province that has made use of this is Valencia, and they are under scrutiny by the EU who has now demanded that the developers/town halls pay adequate compensation to people who have had their land taken in the past.

The new LRU land laws are much stricter, and unless you choose to live in an area that is going to be heavily developed over the next few years the chances of being effected by the law are negligible.

Where should I avoid?

The coastal areas are the main problem, wher developers have now almost completely covered all available building land. Inland areas have been virtually ignored by developers, so the best bet is to move inland.