Twelve autonomous communities governed by the Partido Popular (PP) commit to large-scale affordable housing projects across Spain.
The Partido Popular (PP) begins its 2025 political strategy with a two-day event in Asturias on January 11 and 12. Regional leaders from 12 PP-governed autonomous communities will meet with the party’s national leadership, including Alberto Núñez Feijóo, to formalise plans for addressing Spain’s housing crisis.
Housing is at the forefront of this initiative, with the PP preparing a package of measures aimed at developing affordable housing. This comes just days before Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s major housing event on January 13.
Affordable housing: A new urban model
The PP has reached a unified agreement across the 12 regions it governs to transform unused land into affordable public housing. According to sources cited by El Mundo, the initiative will prioritise affordable rental and purchase options, leveraging vacant land for public benefit.
The main objective, outlined in the party’s document, is to “mobilise public land” for housing development. This includes forming public-private partnerships to accelerate construction and ensure affordability.
The 12 regions leading the effort
The regions participating in this plan are Andalucia, Galicia, Madrid, the Valencian Community, Aragon, Murcia, Extremadura, Castile and Leon, La Rioja, Cantabria, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla. These regions will audit available land after signing the agreement to determine the potential for tens of thousands of new homes.
Key measures in the PP’s housing plan
The PP’s housing strategy focuses on several critical actions:
Mobilising vacant land
Publicly owned vacant land will be repurposed to build affordable homes. Both rental and ownership options will be prioritised.
Bringing cheap land to market
Land obtained from mandatory transfers by developers will be sold to project developers or cooperatives that guarantee affordable housing prices.
Legislative reforms
The party proposes reforms to four key laws, including the Ley del Suelo (Land Law) and the Housing Law. These changes aim to reduce bureaucratic obstacles and streamline land availability for housing.
Addressing Spain’s housing crisis
Over the past decade, house prices in Spain have risen by over 30%, reaching levels reminiscent of the real estate bubble. The PP sees affordable housing as a critical solution to this issue.
Their plan also includes inventorying land reserved for subsidised housing and offering incentives to developers. Additionally, the PP aims to work with local authorities to expand urban areas and speed up the development of new urban land.
Competing housing strategies
The PP’s focus on housing development sets the stage for a political showdown with Pedro Sánchez’s government. By advancing a detailed and ambitious housing plan, the PP hopes to position itself as a strong alternative for Spain’s economic and territorial governance ahead of the 2025 elections.
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