The Málaga City Council maintains the prohibition on opening new bars and restaurants in the historic Centre and El Romeral after noting a 92.5% acoustic improvement at night.
The Málaga City Council has decided to maintain the restrictions that have prevented the opening of new hospitality establishments in the historic Centre and the El Romeral neighbourhood in Teatinos since January 2020. This was announced on Monday following the meeting of the working group on Acoustically Saturated Areas (ZAS), where the results of the latest acoustic measurements were presented.
The data shows a significant improvement in noise levels: 92.5% of the measurement stations recorded a reduction during the night period compared to those taken before the declaration as ZAS. During the daytime, the improvement reaches 75%, and in the afternoon, 52.5%. The measurements were carried out over a week at 48 points, 41 in the Centre and 7 in Teatinos.
The ZAS declaration, in effect for more than six years, aims to reduce the noise pollution historically reported by residents. The restrictions include the suspension of new licenses for bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues, as well as limitations on hours and early closure of terraces depending on the season, with exceptions on holidays such as Holy Week, Christmas, or the Málaga Fair.
During the meeting, the Environmental Sustainability Area reported that no new environmental qualifications for hospitality establishments in the ZAS areas have been initiated, except for one whose processing began before the specific zonal plan for the Centre came into force. In parallel, 56 complaints have been processed in establishments located in these areas, of which 37 (66%) were for noise pollution.
Control has been strengthened with the installation of five sound recorders in public spaces in 2024, which add to the three installed in 2022. These devices allow for real-time monitoring of noise levels. Additionally, the Local Police have intensified surveillance: in the Centre, 491 calls were attended to, and 170 interventions related to noise in public spaces were carried out.
From the Commerce Area, 538 control actions have been carried out so far this year, with 46 sanctioning files referred to Tax Management, 27 resolutions for the removal of terraces due to excesses or lack of authorization, and 12 warnings. These figures represent a decrease compared to the previous period, when 70 sanctions were sent, and 35 terraces were removed.
The decision to extend the restrictions has been supported by community representatives, while the hospitality sector has expressed concern about the impact on economic activity. Nevertheless, the City Council defends that the measure is necessary to ensure the quality of life for residents.
The restrictions will remain in effect as long as the conditions that justified the declaration of ZAS persist. The next follow-up report will be presented in a year, although the City Council does not rule out specific adjustments depending on the evolution of noise levels.
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