Residents criticize the exclusive development near Melides, calling it a “typical greed situation” as they feel pushed out of their own coastal land.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s latest real estate venture has stirred up controversy in Portugal, where the royal couple reportedly purchased a luxurious beachfront property within the CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club. The development, located near the small town of Melides, roughly 81 miles south of Lisbon, offers exclusive residences with prices starting at $4.7 million (£3.6 million).
The Sussexes are among the wealthy investors who have secured one of the 300 soon-to-be constructed homes in the 722-acre compound. The CostaTerra community, part of Discovery Land Company—a project backed by entrepreneur Mike Meldman, who also co-founded Casamigos tequila with George Clooney—promises lavish private villas and a high-end lifestyle along the picturesque Portuguese coast.
However, not everyone is excited about the new development. Local residents are voicing their frustration over the transformation of the once-accessible coastline. Portuguese law has historically protected public access to beaches, but recent changes have allowed certain stretches of sand to be designated as “private,” much to the dismay of the community.
Bradley McGuiness, a local from Melides, expressed his anger over the situation, calling it “the worst thing to happen to the Portuguese coast” and lamenting that the land, which had been enjoyed by locals for generations, is now being taken over by foreign investors. “It’s a typical greed situation,” McGuiness fumed, echoing the sentiments of many who feel displaced by the multimillion-dollar project.
As the luxurious CostaTerra development takes shape, it continues to raise concerns about the impact of high-end tourism and foreign investment on local communities, adding to the ongoing debate about land access and property rights in the region.
