The Balearic Islands Government and the Mallorca Island Council have signed an agreement to transfer 33,131 sqm of public land in Palma’s Sant Ferran area for the development of 323 public homes.
The agreement, signed by Balearic Islands President Margalida Prohens and Mallorca Island Council President Llorenç Galmés, will see the land transferred free of charge to the Balearic Housing Institute (IBAVI), which will be responsible for urbanising the site and delivering the residential development.
The scheme is set to become one of the largest public housing projects currently being advanced in Mallorca and is intended to significantly increase the supply of affordable housing in Palma. The homes will be allocated to citizens with at least 15 years of residency in the Balearic Islands.
“The aim is not to build housing to attract more people to islands that have reached their limits, but to make affordable housing available to citizens who already live in our islands”, Margalida Prohens said.
The land, valued at around €4.6 million, is located between the Sant Ferran sports centre, the Llar de la Infància and Llar de la Joventut facilities, and the Illes Balears Velodrome.
The authorities intend to initiate the project’s administrative process during the current legislative term and plan to classify it as a strategic residential project in an effort to accelerate delivery.
Social, cultural and childcare facilities
As part of the agreement, IBAVI will also transfer 35 protected public homes to the Mallorca Island Council for social use. The allocation will comprise 15 one-bedroom, 12 two-bedroom and eight three-bedroom properties.
The council will additionally receive a ground-floor space of approximately 400 sqm, which is earmarked as a rehearsal venue for music groups, as well as a 3,000 sqm plot for childcare facilities and other uses.
The development will therefore combine the delivery of public housing with additional infrastructure for social services, culture and childcare.
The project forms part of the Balearic Government’s “Illes en transformació” infrastructure investment plan and its housing action plan. Public development is one of the key pillars of the government’s strategy to improve access to affordable housing for existing residents.
According to the regional government, IBAVI is currently advancing more than 1,200 public homes across new developments in the Balearic Islands.
