Above the pine forests and dunes that stretch along the nearly deserted beaches of southwestern Portugal, cranes rise from building sites soon to be luxury hotels — a sign of the region’s contentious transformation into a playground for the wealthy.

Rapid development in the coastal region of Comporta has alarmed locals and environmentalists, who fear a repeat of the unchecked growth seen in Portugal’s southernmost Algarve province, long a package holiday destination.

Dubbed “the new Portuguese Riviera”, Comporta has drawn high-profile visitors including Oscar-winning actor Nicole Kidman and Princess Caroline of Monaco.

Real estate consultancy Knight Frank lists the region, located about an hour’s drive south of Lisbon, among the five most sought-after luxury residential markets worldwid

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