Opposition criticizes the direction of the urban planning license bill

Parliamentary groups debate the inclusion of holiday rental changes in a bill originally intended for technical streamlining.

Generic image of a podium with a microphone in a parliamentary hall.
IA

Generic image of a podium with a microphone in a parliamentary hall.

The bill to streamline urban planning licenses in the Canary Islands is heading for its final approval in Parliament following intense debate over the inclusion of amendments unrelated to the original text.

During the Public Works commission, various parliamentary groups questioned the evolution of the regulation. What began as an initiative focused on reducing administrative delays for construction permits has incorporated, according to critics, multiple changes that distort its initial purpose.
The debate focused particularly on holiday rental regulations. Measures approved in the commission include declaring tourist use as an innocuous activity, establishing a framework for existing holiday homes, and setting a deadline until July 2027 for the regularization of previous activities.
Groups supporting the Government argued that the text remains a key tool for increasing land availability and reducing bureaucracy. Conversely, the opposition warned of potential legal uncertainty and criticized the inclusion of matters they consider disconnected from the goal of streamlining licenses.