The Sopela City Council plans to request access to 81 homes denounced in June 2025 for alleged urban planning irregularities. This action follows up on a procedure initiated in March and marks the advancement to an «inspection phase», where formal entry will be requested, provided «sufficient indications exist and when deemed necessary».

The municipal procedure was triggered by a private complaint alleging years of urban planning irregularities in homes, particularly in developments near the beach. The complaint suggests that residential square footage was «tripled», with owners allegedly creating bedrooms and bathrooms in basements and under roofs, areas not permitted by law. Over 300 homes have been built in this area in recent years.

The local government, composed of EH Bildu and Elkarrekin Podemos, acknowledges that accessing the homes may be «complicated» as it affects «fundamental rights such as the inviolability of the home and privacy». They emphasize that any access must be «duly justified and respond to a real need for verification».

Once conclusions are reached, the council will decide whether «the complaints are archived, the works are legalized and restored, and what sanctions and measures will be imposed to guarantee urban legality». The deadlines for these procedures are three months from initiation and four years from the verification of irregularities.

The council states it is «doing and will do everything in its power to respond to these complaints», while also noting that they «regularly» receive urban planning complaints. Months ago, they requested assistance from the Provincial Council of Biscay for the investigation but have not received the desired response, citing insufficient resources for case verification and processing.