The Plenary Session of the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council has given the go-ahead for the conversion of public land parcels, originally intended for facilities, into public promotion protected housing. This decision will allow for the construction of approximately 1,812 flats at affordable prices, a figure slightly lower than initially projected after the withdrawal of a land bank in Tamaraceite due to an objection.
The areas identified for this development include zones such as La Minilla, Casablanca III, Las Torres, San Lázaro, Tamaraceite, and El Batán. The 'Study of Suitability of Public Service Plots for Public Promotion Protected Housing Construction' details the feasibility of building on land designated for general or local systems without needing to modify urban planning.
By neighborhood, Tamaraceite has the highest potential, capable of accommodating 738 homes. It is followed by Las Torres with 595, El Batán with 165, Casablanca III with 197, Siete Palmas with 91, and La Minilla with 26.
“"Due to its territorial distribution, Tamaraceite concentrates the largest available area, with just over 28,000 square meters, designated for educational and administrative uses. It is followed by the Las Torres neighborhood, with nearly 15,700 square meters, for religious, sports, and cultural uses."
This initiative is based on current regional regulations. The Councilor for Urban Development and Housing, Mauricio Roque, confirmed the acceptance of two objections, which resulted in the removal of an administrative plot in Tamaraceite that was planned for 209 housing units.
Opposition representatives expressed their reservations. Gustavo Sánchez Carrillo, from the PP, pointed out the existence of over 4,500 families seeking housing and warned about the potential reduction in public facilities. Alberto Rodríguez, from Vox, suggested the measure is politically motivated ahead of elections and criticized the declaration of a 'tense zone'. David Suárez, from Coalición Canaria, questioned the choice of this approach given the availability of other developable land.
Roque defended the proposal as a strategic opportunity to diversify the residential supply in a balanced manner, emphasizing the municipal commitment to developing public land for housing. Meanwhile, the mayor, Carolina Darias, highlighted housing as a top government priority and criticized the opposition's 'inconsistency', underscoring the municipality's efforts despite regional responsibilities and the need to expedite procedures.
