Hector Illueca, the Second Vice-President and Minister of Housing and Bioclimatic Architecture, stated that public-private cooperation and European funds will enable the addition of 2,200 new homes in the Community’s public park over the coming years.
He spoke during the opening of the conference on the assistance program for building social rental housing in energy efficient buildings funded by the Next Generation funds.
The information day brought the construction industry together to learn the fundamentals of the Generalitat’s assistance program for public lands, as well as the specifics of its call for surface rights specification.
Plans call for 1,090 houses in the first phase with 54 million euros in European support, a commitment to public-private sector cooperation. It is expected to be re-approved next year under the same terms — 54 million more and the same number of houses would be built.
As explained by Héctor Illueca, the program is part of Plan 2400, a strategy from the Second Vice Presidency to provide residents with new opportunities regardless of income. He also described the plan as a bridge for the Valencian building sector to actively participate in implementing this strategy and expanding the public park.
In this sense, the vice president highlighted the European Recovery Plan, noting that the expansion of the public park has become a reality and brings the region closer to the benchmarks seen in other European countries. Latest data show that the Spanish public housing stock serves 1.16% of households, compared with 16.8% in France, 20.9% in Denmark, and 30% in the Netherlands.
The head of housing stressed that to reach the European average, housing stock must grow by 8%, or about 232,000 units, describing this as a major challenge that European funds could help meet. The plan carries a strong probability of success given ongoing efforts.
Illueca also emphasized that since the creation of the Second Vice-President and the Ministry of Housing and Bioclimatic Architecture, multiple mechanisms have been developed to add new properties to the public park. The most well-known is the trial and recall program, through which nearly 1,000 homes have been purchased to date.
He added another key strategic line focusing on the dignity of the homes already part of the public park. More than 830 houses have been rehabilitated with investments exceeding 29 million euros, and the commitment remains firm this year, with plans to invest nearly 3 million for 389 homes to be allocated to affected families.
Call for help and competition
Following the opening, Elena Azcárraga, General Manager for Housing and Urban Transformation, presented the foundations and the Call for Assistance for constructing social rental housing in energy efficient buildings.
Later, Rafael Montero, managing director of EVha, and María Oliver, EVha’s Deputy Managing Director, presented the tender specifications for the public surface right. The Generalitat’s land management arm outlines how these properties will be offered and awarded.
It is noted that Urban Agenda Minister Raquel Sánchez and Héctor Illueca signed a bilateral agreement on 20 May to promote a total of 1,090 residences on 17 EVha plots as part of the transfer of surface rights.
These 17 parcels are divided into three lots. The first and second parcels are in the province of Alicante, with three plots in the L’Alquería area of Sant Joan d’Alacant, one on Ausiàs March street in El Campello, and one in the Rabasa phase II area in Alicante. The second parcel includes two more plots at L’Alquería in Sant Joan d’Alacant and one on Calle La Huerta in San Vicente del Raspeig.
The third lot is entirely in the province of Valencia, with three plots in La Torre de València, two in Santa Anna in Gandia, and one on L’Horta de Silla street in Valencia city.
EVha will conduct a public tender where the promotion, construction, and subsequent management of the homes will be rewarded. The assistance will be proportional to each residence’s useful area, with a maximum subsidy of 700 euros per square meter and a cap of 50,000 euros per dwelling.
The surface right will extend for 55 years. After completion, the property will be managed by the Generalitat, which will retain ownership.
The maximum implementation period from the building permit is 36 months, meaning homes must be finished by June 30, 2026. The rental price for these promotions will be capped at 7.5 euros per monthly useful square meter, with rentals guaranteed for at least 50 years.
Regarding tenants, the homes must serve as their habitual and permanent residence, be registered with the Community’s Register of Housing Claimants, and have an income no higher than 4.5 times the IPREM for 12 payments, with more favorable terms for large families and people with disabilities.
A committee of experts will evaluate the award criteria to ensure the proposals’ robustness and viability. Evaluation will consider architectural and urban integration, including housing, common areas, energy efficiency, and environmental controls, as well as constructive rationality and maintenance. The model for property management and upkeep will also be assessed.