Cascais Approves Plan for Major Surf Center with Wave Pool and Hotels
A high-performance surf center, featuring a wave pool and two hotel units, is set to be developed in Cascais, next to the Taguspark technology campus. The project is the central feature of the Plano de Pormenor de Talaíde (Talaíde Detailed Plan), which officially came into force on August 7, 2025, after being published in the Diário da República.
The plan covers an area of 90,400 square meters in the parish of São Domingos de Rana. Its stated objective is to promote the “economic and social development and urban regeneration of Talaíde,” which the municipality identifies as one of its more disadvantaged zones. The project is described as an “empreendimento de reconhecido interesse estratégico supramunicipal” (a development of recognized supra-municipal strategic interest) that will enhance the quality of life for the local population.
The project specifications outline a multi-faceted development. The core facility, including the wave pool, commercial spaces, and services, will occupy 58,000 square meters in buildings with a maximum height of four floors plus two basement levels. The development will be complemented by two hospitality establishments: a hotel with 120 rooms and 260 beds, and an apartment hotel with 100 units and 200 beds. Both hotel structures are planned to be a maximum of five stories high with additional basement levels for parking and services.
Infrastructure and public amenities are also a key part of the plan. It includes the creation of 5,785 square meters of public green spaces and a new road network, which will feature a vital connection to the neighboring municipality of Sintra. The plan allocates a total of 333 parking spaces for light vehicles across the different components of the project, as well as spaces for heavy goods and passenger vehicles.
A significant clause within the plan stipulates that the hotel and apartment-hotel cannot begin operations until the wave pool is fully operational for public use. This ensures the primary recreational facility is delivered as promised. The only exception is if the promoter provides a financial guarantee to the municipality. The plan, which has a five-year execution period, also incorporates measures for sustainability, such as the use of photovoltaic panels and water-efficient landscaping.
Nuno Piteira Lopes, the vice-president of the Cascais Câmara, stated that the project “positions Cascais in the vanguarda of sporting innovation” and represents a “strategic investment that reinforces the attractiveness of the council.” The development is expected to be a major draw for tourism and will have a significant impact on the local real estate market and economy.
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