According to plans announced by the Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, the country's newest airport is expected to cost approximately 4.9 billion euros, and will be situated on the south side of the Tagus River, 11.7 miles from Lisbon.

Another site, at Ota, was originally earmarked for the new airport, which will open in 2012, but studies by the LNEC civil engineering laboratory concluded that Alcochete would provide more advantages.

Speaking at a press conference held on the 10th January, Jose Socrates said: "Alcochete is the best option, both technically and financially and beat Ota on four of the seven crucial criteria," which were safety, natural resource sustainability, economic and social development, and financial evaluation.

Flights to Lisbon from London and regional airports in the UK currently run on a daily basis with flight times at around two hours and 40 minutes. Airlines which serve the area include British Airways, easyJet, TAP and BMI Baby.

With many buyers now being priced out of the Algarve market and building restrictions preventing new development on the Algarve coastline, the Blue and Silver Coasts are proving an increasingly attractive proposition for overseas property investment opportunities.

Stretching from Lisbon to Fiqueira da Foz, Portugal's Silver Coast takes its name from the effect of the sun on the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. As much of the Silver Coast remains undiscovered by the mass tourism market, those that do visit and buy property in the area can enjoy traditional Portuguese life played out in medieval villages, such as Royal Óbidos, as well as quiet beaches and sparkling lagoons.

Silver Coast property currently on the market includes two- and three-bedroom apartments, two-, three- and four-bedroom villas and studios, one-bedroom apartments and bedroom-suites in a five-star Condominium Hotel and Spa at the Royal Óbidos Spa & Golf Resort. Situated 50 kilometres north of Lisbon, the Oceanico resort will cover 326 acres of the Portuguese coast and will include a championship golf course, designed by Severiano Ballesteros. 

The Blue Coast area, the southern stretch of Portugal's west coast, is also relatively undiscovered by mass tourism and property buyers alike and boasts pristine countryside, a dolphin sanctuary and untouched beaches and fishing villages.

Beach apartments, marina apartments and private villas, as well as two five-star hotels and two four-star aparthotels within the Troiaresort are currently available on the Blue Coast property market. The 440-hectare resort encompasses the existing Robert Trent Jones 18-hole golf course and to include a 184-berth marina, a casino, a conference centre, a beach club, a country club, a tennis centre and an equestrian centre. Prices at Troiaresort start at €290,400 (approx. £209,375) for a one-bedroom marina apartment.

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For more information visit:
www.oceanicogroup.com
www.irgtroiaresort.com

Article first published 25 January 2008