International Leisure Development (ILD) has at long last managed to gather 2,900 hectares of land for its mega casino resort project Gran Scala in Aragon, Spain and is in the process of getting the contracts drawn up. 1,300 hectares belong to the municipality of Bajo Cinca and 1,600 hectares are in the hands of private owners. The progress of the project now rests with the Aragon authorities and ILD representatives will meet with the committee in charge of developments within the next two weeks.

The local government of Aragon has been very supportive of the ILD project, declaring it a beacon of hope in a long forgotten land, but the company had been unable to acquire sufficient land at a reasonable price. Laws to facilitate operation of the huge entertainment complex are, according to the Aragon vice president Jose Angel Biel, at an advanced stage. The development was originally expected to be in Los Monegros and then several other locations in Aragon as ILD attempted to secure the necessary land. The delay has put the project over six months behind schedule.

The delay is likely to continue as 130 separate rural landowners have to find title to their land and, if necessary, get the papers in order. Also there are some 30 owners with one or two hectares of land who have yet to be traced. ILD has offered between €6,000 and €9,000 per hectare, depending on the present use of the ground. The first phase of the €17 billion project was to have been completed before the end of 2010 and include the first casino hotels and three theme parks.

The final scheme is expected to attract around 25 million visitors each year to 32 casino hotels, 70 additional hotels, 232 restaurants, museums and hundreds of shops as well as five theme parks. Over 12 companies are involved in the project, including Aristocrat, Novomatic, Groupe Tranchant, Aquantica and SpyLand. The final phase of the development, unique in Europe, is not expected to open before 2015. (E-10.09.08)

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