Sant Antoni Must Close Ses Variades Parking Area Within Three Months Following Supreme Court Decision

02 November 2026

Sant Antoni de Portmany will have to close the Ses Variades parking area within a maximum period of three months after the Spanish Supreme Court rejected the Town Council's appeal against a judicial ruling ordering its closure.

The municipality announced on Friday, 30 October 2026, that it would proceed with the closure in compliance with the final court decisions. The exact date for removing the remaining vehicles and closing the site has not yet been announced.

The decision brings a legal dispute that began in 2016 to a decisive stage and will remove one of Sant Antoni's best-known free parking areas.

A Legal Dispute Dating Back to 2016

The proceedings began in October 2016, when Subsuelos Urbanos SL, the former concessionaire of the underground public car park at Plaça d'Espanya, challenged the operation of several municipal parking areas.

The company argued that the availability of these free parking facilities reduced the number of customers using its underground car park. The Town Council initially rejected its request to close the sites, prompting the company to take the matter to the administrative courts.

In March 2020, Administrative Court No. 3 in Palma upheld the company's appeal and ordered the Council to initiate closure proceedings for five plots being used as car parks, including Ses Variades.

A Further Court Ruling Reversed the Council's Position

In October 2022, the court initially considered the ruling adequately executed after the Council terminated its agreements with the owners of the land used for the parking areas.

However, Subsuelos Urbanos appealed that decision.

On 30 June 2025, the High Court of Justice of the Balearic Islands (TSJIB) ruled that the Council had to proceed with the effective closure of the affected parking areas within three months.

The municipality then sought to challenge that decision before the Supreme Court. On 14 October 2026, the Supreme Court rejected the appeal on cassation, leaving the closure order final.

According to the Council's announcement, it now has a maximum of three months to carry out the closure.

Ses Variades Is the Only Affected Site Still Being Used for Parking

The original court proceedings concerned five plots used as parking areas. However, Ses Variades is the only one of those sites where vehicles are still parked.

The area covers approximately 76,000 square metres and has been widely used as free parking by residents and visitors to Sant Antoni.

The Council has confirmed that it will determine the exact date for the removal of vehicles and the definitive closure of the site in the coming days.

Ses Alameres Offers 600 Free Parking Spaces

With the loss of Ses Variades approaching, the Council has identified the free car park at Ses Alameres, near the entrance to Sant Antoni, as the main alternative.

The facility has recently been expanded and now offers 600 parking spaces, according to the municipality.

The Council has also stated that it is working on acquiring additional land to increase parking capacity and provide further options for residents and visitors.

However, no specific details or timetable for the acquisition of new sites have yet been announced.

What Happens Next?

The immediate priority for the municipality is to determine the date on which Ses Variades will be cleared and closed in accordance with the final judicial decision.

The closure will reduce the available free parking in Sant Antoni, making the 600-space Ses Alameres facility an important alternative.

The Council's plans to acquire additional land could provide further capacity in the future, although the timing and location of any new parking facilities remain unconfirmed.

POSTÉ PAR IBIZA ONE STOP

Achetez vos billets pour Ibiza auprès d’un vendeur officiel de confiance

Cliquez ici pour trouver des billets pour les clubs les plus en vogue, les soirées en bateau, les activités et bien plus encore.

Luxury Looks for Your Ibiza Escape. Shop brand-new, authentic designer fashion from Europe’s best boutiques, with savings of up to 60% off retail at italist.

Shop Ibiza Essentials on Amazon

Browse Ibiza Merch & Prints on Etsy