A new development, to incorporate housing, business, and leisure facilities, means the population of Quarteira, could treble.
A new development planned for the north and eastern parts of the Portuguese town of Quarteira, in the Algarve, could see its population treble over the next few years, according to reports in English-language newspaper The Resident.
The new area is expected to welcome 8,573 inhabitants, whereas the entire population of the town at the moment is only 5,000.
Seruca Emídio, the president of Loulé Câmara, says the project will soon be available for public discussion and should be approved within the first six months of 2008.
An area of 76 hectares has been marked out for the development, which will include new amenities, such as sports pitches, a running track, a multi-purpose pavilion for sporting and cultural events, and businesses.
Other services planned for the developments include schools and kindergartens, a railway station, and a day care and social centre for the elderly.
A new road link is also planned to link the new urban area to the existing Avenida de Ceuta and Avenida de Sá Carneiro roads.
The new development is close to Vilamoura in the Algarve's Golden Triangle and is surrounded by world-class golf courses and beautiful beaches.