Proposal for Faster Public Housing Construction in Tenerife
The Cabildo de Tenerife has submitted a proposal to the Parliament of the Canary Islands aimed at expediting the construction of public housing. The initiative seeks to amend the Land and Natural Spaces Law to allow housing projects to be designated as of “insular” or “regional interest,” which would facilitate building on non-urbanisable land and speed up licensing processes.
During the recent Debate on the State of the Island, the Partido Popular called on the regional assembly to revise the land law to include officially protected housing (VPO) among projects eligible for such interest designations. This matter will now be reviewed by the Parliament, which is already considering modifications to the legislation.
Currently, the law stipulates that projects of insular or regional interest are intended for immediate execution and focus on strategic activities, including industrial, energy, and tourism-related developments. However, housing is not explicitly listed as a category that can receive these designations. The proposed changes would address this gap, allowing projects with this status to proceed regardless of land classification.
In particular, any projects on protected agricultural land would only be allowed in exceptional cases, specifically when they are initiated by the public sector, which could apply to public housing developments. Importantly, projects designated as of insular or regional interest would take precedence over local planning regulations.
The Cabildo’s proposal specifically aims to incorporate VPO into legal definitions for general systems, allowing them to be treated as Projects of Insular or Regional Interest. The proposal is scheduled for discussion during the Parliament’s upcoming session.
These legislative changes originate from a decree intended to make vacant land available for temporary economic activities and facilitate energy-related developments, especially in light of current housing shortages.
