Construction work begins on Richard Branson's luxury Mallorca hotel

Construction work begins on Richard Branson’s new luxury Mallorca hotel as he transforms property that was smashed by storms last summer

• Construction of Sir Richard Branson’s luxurious Mallorca hotel on the islands northwest started in November
• Planning permission was granted earlier this year to develop a building on the plot into a 29-bedroom hotel
• It came after the Finca building’s facade, medieval-style tower were badly damaged in storms in August 2020

Construction work on Sir Richard Branson’s new luxury Mallorca hotel has started as he plans to transform a property that was smashed by storms last summer.  

Images show the tumbledown site on the Son Bunyola Estate, set amid vineyards, citrus and olive trees on the island’s northwest, cloaked in blue netting and scaffolding and surrounded by building materials.

The Banyalbufar plot will form part of the Virgin Limited Edition portfolio of posh properties and joins three other hotels – Sa Punta S’Aguila, Sa Terra Rotja and Son Balagueret – owned by the Branson family.    

Sir Richard was granted permission in February to develop a pre-existing structure, called the Finca building, on the plot and transform it into a super-luxurious 29-bedroom hotel.

It came after the building’s facade, along with its medieval-style tower, was severely damaged by storm-force winds last August. Construction started late last month with plans to open the hotel in 2023.  

Construction work on Sir Richard Branson’s new luxury Mallorca hotel has started as he plans to transform a property that was smashed by storms last summer

Sir Richard was granted permission in February to develop a pre-existing structure, called the Finca building, on the plot and transform it into a super-luxurious 29-bedroom hotel

Images show the tumbledown site on the Son Bunyola Estate, set amid vineyards, citrus and olive trees on the island’s northwest, cloaked in blue netting and scaffolding and surrounded by building materials

Sir Richard bought the Son Bunyola estate in 1987 but sold it in 2002. When the estate went back on the market in 2015, he snapped it up for £11million from the couple he sold it to 13 years earlier

The Finca building was severely damaged in storms in August 2020 but Sir Richard hopes to transform the Mallorca site into a luxury 29-bed hotel

The 71-year-old billionaire has said he wants to build ‘the most luxurious hotel in the Mediterranean’ on the 251-acre estate and plans to ‘bring a beautiful historic Mallorcan building back to life.’

The building set to be transformed dates back to the 1800s and is surrounded by ‘vines, citrus fruit trees, almonds and hundreds of olive trees’. 

Sir Richard bought the Son Bunyola estate, on the north-west of the island, in 1987. But he sold it in 2002 after he was refused planning permission to build a luxury boutique hotel on the land.

Then, in 2015, the Son Bunyola estate went back on the market and the tycoon snapped it up for £11million from the couple he sold it to 13 years earlier and incorporated it into the Virgin Limited Edition collection.

Sir Richard was in February granted permission to develop a pre-existing building on the plot, called the Finca building (pictured)

The Finca building, including a mediaeval-style tower, on the Son Bunyola estate is set to be transformed into a super-luxurious 29-bedroom hotel

The building set to be developed dates back to the 1800s and is surrounded by ‘vines, citrus fruit trees, almonds and hundreds of olive trees’

The 71-year-old billionaire has said he wants to build ‘the most luxurious hotel in the Mediterranean’ on the 251-acre estate and plans to ‘bring a beautiful historic Mallorcan building back to life’ 

Currently, guests can book into one of three villas – Sa Punta S’Aguila, Sa Terra Rotja and Son Balagueret.

Sa Punta De S’Aguila, meaning Eagle’s Point in Spanish, is built in the traditional Majorcan-style and has five en-suite bedrooms, a heated swimming pool, kitchen, living and dining area. Seven nights starts from 24,300 euros (£21,001).

Sa Terra Rotja, translated from the local language to mean red earth, has a starting rate of 19,425 euros (£16,788) for seven nights and boasts four en-suite bedrooms and a heated pool.

Son Balagueret, the newest villa, is a ‘traditional and secluded four-bedroom Majorcan villa with plenty of space for guests to relax and take in the beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea’. Seven nights costs from 16,520 euros (£14,277).

Rental for prices for the villas include all drinks, meals, concierge and housekeeping services and Wi-Fi.

The other properties in the Virgin Limited Edition group are Mahali Mzuri in Kenya, Necker Island and Moskito Island in the British Virgin Islands, Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco, The Lodge in Verbier in the Swiss Alps, and Ulusaba and Mont Rochelle in South Africa.

Currently, guests can book into one of three Branson-owned villas – Sa Punta S’Aguila, (pictured) Sa Terra Rotja and Son Balagueret 

Each of the villas has its own private heated pool. Pictured is the one at Sa Punta de S’Aguila, offering views of the mountains

Sa Terra Rotja villa (pictured above), translated from the local language to mean red earth, has a starting rate of 19,425 euros (£16,788) for seven nights

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