A long-running urban planning dispute in Cala Vadella has escalated after property owners filed a complaint with the Ibiza Public Prosecutor's Office against Sant Josep mayor Vicent Roig and other municipal officials, alleging possible administrative prevarication and irregularities in the management of the development.

The complaint was submitted by technical architect Javier Gea Martínez, acting on his own behalf and representing two property owners, José María Ugal Cuenca and Óscar Crespo Sánchez.

The dispute centres on planning unit AA 4.3 in Cala Vadella and the Town Council's refusal to formally accept the urbanisation. The owners argue that the municipality has failed to resolve longstanding planning and infrastructure issues, leaving certain property owners unable to obtain building licences.

The complaint follows a decision by Sant Josep's Local Government Board on 16 October 2026 to reject the request for definitive municipal acceptance of the development.

Complaint Submitted to the Ibiza Public Prosecutor's Office

According to the documentation reported by La Voz de Ibiza, Gea submitted the complaint this week, naming mayor Vicent Roig and other municipal representatives.

The complainants allege that the Town Council has maintained an administrative situation since 2007 that has prevented certain owners from obtaining permission to build homes on their plots.

They argue that municipal representatives have failed to take the necessary steps to complete the urbanisation and resolve its outstanding planning requirements, despite being aware of the situation and the difficulties affecting property owners.

The complaint also questions the continuation of restrictions on building licences without, according to the owners, an effective municipal solution to the underlying infrastructure and planning problems.

These are allegations made by the complainants. The submission of a complaint does not establish that an offence has occurred, and no judicial finding of wrongdoing against the mayor or other municipal officials has been reported.

Town Council Rejected the Request on 16 October

The latest development follows the rejection of a request for the definitive reception of the Cala Vadella urbanisation.

The application was submitted on 15 July 2025 by Gea, representing the two property owners. On 16 October 2026, Sant Josep's Local Government Board unanimously rejected the request.

The decision was based on technical and legal reports identifying outstanding requirements relating to the development's planning documentation and infrastructure.

Among the deficiencies identified were problems affecting parts of the road network, missing pavements and public lighting in certain sections, and shortcomings in the wastewater drainage system.

The municipal reports also stated that there was insufficient technical documentation to verify that certain water supply and electricity installations met the required standards.

In addition, the technical and legal assessments identified missing approved planning, management and urbanisation instruments needed to establish that the development had fulfilled the requirements for definitive municipal acceptance.

The Town Council therefore concluded that the conditions for formally receiving the urbanisation had not been demonstrated.

Disagreement Over Who Should Complete the Urbanisation

The dispute reflects a fundamental disagreement over who should take responsibility for completing the outstanding works in Cala Vadella.

The property owners argue that the area has been developed and occupied for decades, with approximately 80% of its plots already containing buildings.

According to their representatives, the municipality granted building licences between 1973 and 2007, but subsequently stopped authorising new residential construction on the remaining undeveloped plots.

The owners say this has created unequal conditions between those who were able to build in earlier decades and those who still cannot obtain permission to develop their land.

They also argue that there is no active urban developer or organised owners' association capable of coordinating and financing the outstanding works.

Gea maintains that the Town Council should take the initiative, organise the necessary infrastructure works and subsequently distribute the costs among the property owners through the legally applicable procedure.

Municipal Reports Identify Infrastructure and Planning Deficiencies

The Town Council's position is based on the requirements it considers necessary before the urbanisation can be formally accepted.

A technical inspection carried out on 25 July 2025, documented in a report dated 6 August, identified several shortcomings in the infrastructure.

These included incomplete pavements and public lighting in certain areas, problems with the continuity and condition of some roads, and deficiencies in wastewater drainage.

The report also raised questions about the technical documentation available for certain water and electricity installations.

Importantly, the finding concerning water and electricity was that the available documentation was insufficient to verify compliance with the required standards. It does not necessarily mean that these services are physically absent.

The municipal assessment also identified outstanding planning and administrative requirements, including the need for approved instruments covering detailed planning, management and urbanisation.

These findings formed part of the reasoning behind the rejection of the owners' application.

A Dispute That Has Continued Since 2025

The current complaint follows several attempts by property owners to persuade the Town Council to resolve the situation.

In April 2025, owners submitted proposals during the consultation process for the municipality's new General Urban Development Plan, known as the PGOU. They requested that the planning situation of Cala Vadella be recognised and that the municipality take responsibility for completing the urbanisation.

In July 2025, another formal request called on the Town Council to receive the completed infrastructure and assume responsibility for its management and maintenance.

The owners argued that the development had been in use for more than 50 years and that the municipality had previously granted numerous building licences in the area.

They also warned at the time that they could pursue legal action if the situation remained unresolved.

The rejection of the definitive reception request in October 2026 has now been followed by the complaint submitted to the Prosecutor's Office.

Town Council's Position on the Complaint Still Pending

La Voz de Ibiza reported that it had contacted Sant Josep Town Council seeking clarification on how the development could be completed, which party should carry out the outstanding works and how the costs would be financed.

The newspaper also requested the Council's response to the allegations made against the mayor and other municipal officials.

At the time of publication, the Town Council had not provided a response to those questions.

The legal complaint therefore adds another dimension to an already complex urban planning dispute, with the property owners challenging the municipality's handling of the development and the Council relying on technical and legal requirements to justify its refusal to accept the urbanisation.

No determination of criminal responsibility has been reported. The next developments will depend on the response of the Prosecutor's Office and any further action by the municipal authorities.