The Minister of Territorial Policy, Jesús Machín, informed the Plenary about the progress in the territorial planning instruments for Lanzarote and La Graciosa. The new Insular Territorial Planning Plan (PIOT), developed by Gesplan, has completed six phases and is being prepared for a 45-day public exhibition to gather input from citizens and administrations.
The President of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, emphasized the importance of updating planning to provide legal certainty, protect natural spaces, and meet the island's needs. The new PIOT aims to increase natural protection from 42% to 60%, triple the land allocated to the primary sector, and regulate over 99% of the coastline.
Minister Machín recalled that the previous procedure, initiated over 15 years ago with an expenditure of more than 800,000 euros, was annulled in 2022, necessitating a new expediente. The Cabildo has resolved the contractual situation with the previous drafting team, Ezquiaga.
Regarding specific plans, the Special Plan for the Protected Landscape of La Geria has reached 67% of its processing. The Plan for the Management of Natural Resources (PORN) for the Los Volcanes Natural Park is 100% complete, including the zoning of El Golfo and the recognition of rural settlements. The Plan for Use and Management (PRUG) for Los Volcanes is at 20%, and the one for the Chinijo Archipelago is at 67%.
The Modernization Plans (PMM) for Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise were also discussed, initiating their drafting phase to improve public recreation areas and address the planning situation. Concerning vacation rentals, the number has decreased from a maximum of 8,209 places to 6,300, with over 2,500 tourist places declared expired.
Finally, the Cabildo is working on regulating the activity of buggies due to detected impacts (noise, dust, deterioration of rural tracks). A prior public consultation has been opened for a Provisional Insular Ordinance, and a report has been commissioned from a professor at the University of La Laguna. A precautionary suspension of the activity is being considered.
