The Department of Social Services, Equality and Housing has identified Alcoy as the municipality in Alicante receiving the most attention for its rehabilitation efforts. The 2024 budgets include a direct investment in public housing rehabilitation and construction projects totaling 1,145,000 euros. [Attribution: Generalitat Valenciana]
The primary action planned for the l’Alcoià region during this period centers on rehabilitating the Molinar historical complex. The project budget is one million euros and will involve studies aimed at protecting, preserving, and recovering the city of Alcoy’s cultural heritage assets and guiding their development. [Attribution: Generalitat Valenciana]
This project first appeared in 2018 and was later reflected in Generalitat accounts for the 2022 fiscal year within participatory budgets, with a budget of 940,000 euros. Its aim is to support and advance the sustainable development of Alcoy’s industrial cultural heritage, specifically the First Water Factories located in the Molinar basin. [Attribution: Generalitat Valenciana]
Alcoy rehabilitates Molinar to spread the origins of Valencian industry
In addition, the budget plan includes 60,000 euro items for rehabilitation of the historic center of Alcoy, the capital of l’Alcoià, which for the first time was included in participatory budgets in 2022. The initial amount at that time stood at 200,000 euros. [Attribution: Generalitat Valenciana]
The Generalitat’s calculations allocate 85,980 euros for the preparation of the project draft and construction management through a juried competition for a pilot residential building in Alcoy. [Attribution: Generalitat Valenciana]
One hundred 19th-century council houses are abandoned in Alcoy
In total, the Ministry of Housing plans to invest 385 million euros in the Valencian Community for building corporate housing, a figure that compares with 402 million for the current year. The funds earmarked for mass housing construction, especially for social rental purposes, have seen the largest decrease. The previous government allocated 90 million euros to this goal, but the new Consell led by PP and Vox reduced this figure to 32 million euros, a drop of 60 percent. It remains roughly a third of the previous level invested by the prior Ministry of Housing. [Attribution: Generalitat Valenciana]
119 million for energy rehabilitation
A total of 119 million euros has been allocated for energy and accessibility rehabilitation of buildings and neighborhoods. This allocation is slightly higher than the 113 million euros planned by the previous administration. The emphasis includes supporting housing emergency measures focused on preventing evictions and improving access to housing, with the allocation rising from 76 million to 73 million. [Attribution: Generalitat Valenciana]
The overall strategy aims to refresh the urban fabric, preserve historic districts, and enhance living conditions for residents. The Molinar basin, with its industrial past, is presented as a case study in how cultural heritage and modern housing policies can coexist to foster sustainable urban renewal. [Attribution: Generalitat Valenciana]
A panoramic view of Alcoy’s old town offers a visual reminder of the city’s layered history and ongoing redevelopment efforts.
The energy rehabilitation plan underscores the region’s commitment to making older buildings more energy efficient and accessible, aligning with broader housing security goals across the Valencian Community. [Attribution: Generalitat Valenciana]
In Canada and the United States, cities watching similar urban renewal trends may draw practical lessons from Alcoy’s approach, including phased investments, cultural heritage integration, and participatory budgeting mechanisms that empower residents to shape local development outcomes. [Attribution: Generalitat Valenciana]