Villa Extension Must Go, Court Tells Banderas

Hollywood star Antonio Banderas became the most famous name to fall foul of Spain's efforts to clean up illegal developments when he was ordered yesterday to demolish a large chunk of his beach front house near Marbella.

A court in Andalucía rejected an appeal by Banderas's lawyers against a demolition order handed down in 2003. The star of the Mask of Zorro and Spy Kids was given permission by Marbella's town council in 1995 to build a large extension to his villa, but the court has now ruled that the add-on is illegal and Banderas has been given two months to knock it down.

He and his wife, Melanie Griffith, bought the villa, set in two acres of land, 11 years ago as a holiday home, but it has been a source of controversy since they built the extension. Part of the extra wing, which comprises nearly one-fifth of the house, reaches the water's edge and is built on land designated for public use.

For years the Spanish authorities turned a blind eye to illegal developments that disfigured the country's coastlines, because the construction industry was a vital motor for the economy. Now regional governments are cracking down and a law that prevents construction within 100 meters of the sea is being more vigorously applied, although the environment ministry has said that only the worst cases will require demolitions.

There has also been a move to root out the widespread corruption in town councils, in which officials took bribes in return for issuing building permits. The entire town council of Marbella, previously run by a controversial mayor, Jesus Gil y Gil, was dismissed last year, with 50 officials accused of corruption that led to the building of 30,000 illegal houses.