Victory for Jelsa as foreign workers’ hostel blocked
- by croatiaweek
- in News
(Photo credit: © Samuli Lintula / Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0)
Residents of Jelsa on the island of Hvar are celebrating after confirmation that a proposed hostel for foreign workers will not be built.
The project, which had sparked widespread opposition in the community, envisaged accommodation for up to 800 workers in the Vrisne–Klokun area, opposite the industrial zone.
Locals argued the scale of the development would have placed an unsustainable burden on the town’s infrastructure and quality of life.
More than 1,200 residents signed a petition against the project – a remarkable figure in a municipality of just 3,600 people.
The opposition was echoed at an extraordinary session of the Jelsa Municipal Council, which concluded that the hostel was not in line with the local spatial plan.
This week, the final decision arrived. The county authority responsible for issuing construction permits has confirmed that a building permit for the hostel cannot be granted.
Jelsa Municipality head, Marija Marjan, announced the news on social media:
“Confirmation has been received from the highest county body in charge of building permits that a construction permit for the proposed hostel cannot be issued. Only smaller family hotels and hostels, in line with the spatial plan, are permitted – not a building of this scale. This means the hostel will not be built.”
Marjan expressed gratitude to councillors and former mayor Nikša Peronja for their support, as well as to the legal experts who provided voluntary assistance in preparing the documents.
Jelsa
The outcome marks a decisive victory for local residents, who had voiced strong concerns about safety, infrastructure and the long-term character of their town.
The spatial plan is now under review, with the Urbanism Committee set to define clearer guidelines for mixed-use zones to reflect the wishes of local people.
For many in Jelsa, the confirmation that the project will not go ahead has brought relief and closure. As Marjan concluded:
“We promised it would not be built – and it will not. Jelsa can finally sleep peacefully again.”
