Alcobendas begins development of Valgrande with 8,600 homes, half of which are public

The Alcobendas City Council has approved the urbanisation project for Valgrande, the largest development in the city, which plans for 8,600 homes, more than half of which will be public housing. The mayor, Rocío García, assures that construction will begin within two years.

The Alcobendas City Council took a firm first step on Monday to build the largest housing development in its history. The Governing Board has approved the urbanisation project for Valgrande, a development that includes 8,600 homes, of which more than half will be public housing. Mayor Rocío García has confirmed that construction could begin within a period of one to two years.

54% of protected housing to stop the exodus of young people

The Valgrande development, located to the north of the municipality, reserves 54% of the homes for public protection, which means between 3,000 and 3,500 affordable homes. The mayor explained that the City Council owns 20% of the land, which will be managed through the municipal company EMVIALSA to build public housing for rent and sale at regulated prices.

García acknowledged that one of the main concerns of residents is that their children cannot afford to live in Alcobendas.

“It saddens me when people tell me on the street that their children have to leave the city because there is no housing,” lamented the mayor.

With Valgrande, the City Council aims to reverse this situation and offer an alternative to young families.

Timeline: construction in two years and private marketing already underway

The approval of the urbanisation project allows for the initiation of sectoral procedures with the Community of Madrid. However, the City Council will need to resolve an issue with a property owner who has refused to sign a voluntary re-parceling agreement, which will require a new re-parceling within 8 to 10 months. Despite this, the mayor is confident that construction will start in year and a half or two years.

Meanwhile, private initiatives have already mobilised.

“We know that the private sector already has cooperatives marketing projects,” García stated.

Among the landowners are major developers such as Amenabar and Culmia, who will also promote their developments.

More immediate public housing: 750 supportive accommodations and ongoing promotions

Alongside Valgrande, the Alcobendas City Council has launched other initiatives to increase the supply of affordable housing in the short term. The city has joined the Vive Plan of the Community of Madrid, allocating two supportive plots (North and Centre) where 750 supportive accommodations for young people will be built.

Additionally, EMVIALSA has already delivered 39 public homes to their beneficiaries in December, and plans to complete another 35 supportive accommodations on Doctor García Olivares Street by September or October, as well as 39 public rental homes on Diego Salmerón. The mayor has criticised the previous management of the PSOE:

“We come from a legislature where the Socialist Party built zero homes in Alcobendas. They called it 'the housing legislature', and the reality is that they built none.”

2027 Budget: tax cuts and €230 million investment

García announced that the municipal budget for 2027, which will be approved in October or November, will amount to €230 million, slightly lower than that of 2026 (€240 million) due to the reduction of extraordinary investments. The budget will maintain the IBI at the legal minimum and incorporate fifteen new tax relief measures, consolidating Alcobendas as the major city with the lowest tax pressure in the Community of Madrid.

The mayor estimated that, during the legislature, families will have saved €34 million thanks to the thirty tax measures promoted by her government. Among the planned investments are the laying of the first stone for a family centre in September or October, improvements in schools, playgrounds, cultural facilities, senior centres, and security.

The conflict with the State Budget: €3 million less for Alcobendas

García has criticised the central government for the lack of General State Budgets for 2027.

“Their alarming lack of institutional loyalty from the central Executive has direct consequences on municipalism,” she denounced.

According to the mayor, the absence of instructions regarding state transfers prevents budgeting for €3 million additional in the Participation of State Revenues (PIE). That money, she asserted, would allow for financing 50% of municipal investments with own funds.

Despite this setback, the City Council maintains its roadmap. The residents of Alcobendas will see in the coming months how the first steps of Valgrande and the public housing promotions materialise, with the hope that the dream of having affordable housing in their city will no longer be a chimera.