Río Real: A New Chapter for Residential Development in East Marbella

Río Real is preparing for a major transformation. The Marbella Town Hall is progressing with plans for the second phase of this urban development, covering more than 47 hectares on  both sides of the AP-7 motorway. The scheme will provide 428 homes, a retail area, public facilities and extensive green spaces.

The significance of the project goes beyond the number of new homes. It will create a more complete residential neighbourhood in a location that already offers some of Marbella's most appealing qualities: golf, proximity to the beach, an established residential setting and easy access to the town centre.

A new residential neighbourhood with services and green spaces

The masterplan provides for 428 homes: 41 detached houses and 387 apartments across several plots. Land has also been allocated for a retail area, a school, sports facilities, social services and infrastructure.

Almost 20 hectares will be dedicated to public green spaces. Together with the planned amenities and facilities, these areas will help integrate the new homes into the wider neighbourhood and improve connections throughout the development.

This is not simply a standalone residential project, but a new neighbourhood planned around homes, everyday services and public spaces.

Planning and infrastructure approvals move forward

The Partial Development Plan (Plan Parcial) has received final approval, while the infrastructure development and land readjustment projects (urbanización and reparcelación) have received initial approval and are progressing through the remaining administrative stages. The infrastructure development project has also obtained the required Unified Environmental Authorisation.

These steps establish the framework for the individual plots, infrastructure, roads and public land allocations needed to develop the area.

However, no dates have yet been announced for the start of infrastructure works or construction of the future residential developments.

Neinor Homes' Role in the Residential Development

Neinor Homes has filed the land reallocation project: the document that organises the plots, transfers and spaces needed to carry out the development. The proposal has already cleared the Local Government Board, is currently open for public consultation, and must still complete its administrative process before construction can begin.

Total development costs run to around €22 million, and the town hall itself will receive close to €12.5 million in direct revenue from the project — a sign of the scale and seriousness behind the scheme.

Neinor Homes' role in the residential development

Neinor Homes ibehind the infrastructure development project for Río Real's second phase. Within the wider scheme, a separate high-end residential project has also been announced, comprising 262 homes and more than 60,000 m² of buildable floor area.

The proposal includes a private club with facilities for wellness, sport, dining and leisure. Neinor Homes will oversee the residential project's design, planning permissions and construction.

The 262 homes announced for this residential project should not be confused with the 428 homes planned for the entire development area. The information currently available does not specify how the individual residential projects will be distributed across the different plots and phases.

Details of property types, sizes, prices, architects and sales launch dates have yet to be released.

Río Real's growing weight within East Marbella

Río rteal sifrom Marbella town centre and close to some of the area's best beaches. Its golf course, designed by Javier Arana, follows the river valley towards the Mediterranean and remains one of the neighbourhood's defining features.

The area also benefits from established residential surroundings and good connections to the rest of Marbella. The availability of development land creates opportunities for new homes, green spaces and local amenities, something that is increasingly difficult to achieve in the municipality's more developed residential areas.

At Diana Morales Properties | Knight Frank, we have followed the evolution of Marbella's residential property market for more than three decades. As we noted in our Marbella Property Market Report 2026:

"In parts of East Marbella, such as Santa Clara, El Rosario and Elviria, buyers can acquire more living space for the same budget. This also helps explain why East Marbella is one of the Costa del Sol's residential areas with the greatest potential for future growth."

Río Real has its own residential character and price levels, but shares several of the factors behind this potential: proximity to the town centre and the beach, good connections and the opportunity to develop contemporary homes within a planned residential setting.

A Development worth watching

Río Real's second phase could expand the supply of new homes in East Marbella while bringing additional amenities, public facilities and green spaces to the area. It could also improve connections between established neighbourhoods and the emerging residential areas to the east of Marbella.

Important details remain to be confirmed, and the timetable will depend on progress through the remaining planning and approval stages.

Nevertheless, the scale of the project and its combination of housing, services and green spaces make Río Real one of the areas with considerable scope for residential development within Marbella's property market.

Information verified and updated as of November 2026. Project details and timelines may change as planning procedures progress and individual residential developments are announced.

Pia Arrieta, 05 Nov 2026 - News