The Government Board of the City Council of Madrid has initially approved a Special Plan that adapts municipal regulations to regional law to promote protected housing. The measure includes three key changes and could mobilise 20,000 new flats.
The City Council of Madrid has taken a decisive step to alleviate the housing problem in the capital. The Government Board approved this Thursday, initially, a Special Plan that adapts the municipal ordinance to Law 3/2024 of the Community of Madrid, modified by Law 2/2026 of urgent measures to increase the supply of publicly protected housing. The aim is to expedite the construction of protected housing in the city.
The plan, driven by the Department of Urban Planning, Environment and Mobility, introduces three fundamental modifications to expand the possibilities of developing this type of housing. The first extends alternative residential use to plots classified as tertiary accommodation and private facilities, as long as they are designated for protected rental housing. Until now, this option was only allowed on office-use tertiary plots.
Secondly, the regulation creates a new regime that allows more homes to be built on undeveloped plots already reserved for protected housing, as well as on public land designated for that purpose. This will facilitate an increase in the density of protected flats on those plots.
The third modification considers the creation of new temporary accommodation modalities in some empty industrial plots located in consolidated urban land and within residential areas. However, the City Council has excluded plots located exclusively in industrial areas, due to the incompatibility of uses and the lack of residential services.
According to municipal forecasts, this regulation could mobilise up to 20,000 new protected homes. To date, the council has granted licenses for 1,408 protected homes intended for rent, and another 3,779 are in various stages of processing. In total, they add up to 5,187 protected homes under development.
By districts, Valdebebas concentrates the largest volume of actions, with 3,739 homes between granted and in processing. It is followed by Los Berrocales (215), Los Ahijones (300), Ensanche de Vallecas (135) and El Cañaveral (124). There are also projects in the API 17.12 Carretera de area, although still without concrete data.
The plan aims to respond to the growing demand for affordable housing in Madrid, where free market prices continue to rise. The adaptation of municipal regulations to regional law will allow developers to take advantage of the new special regimes, reducing bureaucratic hurdles and speeding up construction timelines.
City officials emphasise that these measures will not only increase supply but also promote protected rental, a modality they consider key to facilitating access to housing for young people and families with medium and low incomes. The special plan must now pass through the public exposure period and receive sectoral reports before its final approval.
The Community of Madrid, for its part, has supported the initiative, which is part of its strategy to double the stock of protected housing in the region. Collaboration between both administrations is essential to expedite procedures and meet the set objectives.
Residents of the capital will be able to consult the special plan during the period for objections, which will open in the coming weeks. The City Council expects that the first promotions covered by this regulation can begin construction before the end of the year.
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