The Brunete Town Hall has launched an urban plan that aims to build 17,572 homes and quintuple its population, increasing from 11,261 to over 63,000 inhabitants in 15-20 years.
Earthworks are already visible in Brunete. The urban plan that will transform this municipality in the Sierra Sur of Madrid into a medium-sized city has begun to be implemented. The project includes the construction of 17,572 new homes, a figure that the council rounds down to 17,500 in its public reports. With this expansion, the population is expected to rise from 11,261 registered residents at the beginning of 2025 to over 63,000 neighbours, which means the arrival of around 52,000 new inhabitants.
The Community of Madrid announced the start of the works on April 8, 2025, in a key area. Subsequently, on May 26, 2026, the first stone of the SR-2 El Olivar sector was laid. The planning is divided into 11 areas, of which eight are designated for residential use. The urbanisation will be carried out progressively over an estimated period of 15 to 20 years.
Among the most advanced areas is the SR-5 'Ensanche Sur' sector, where 2,696 properties are planned. Of these, 1,384 will be for public protection and 1,312 will be for the free market. The initial phase of this development includes 1,270 homes, and the urbanisation tasks have an execution period of 18 months.
The Special Infrastructure Plan, approved by the municipal plenary, states that the project covers an area of 4 million square metres for green spaces, public facilities, and roads. Additionally, 800,000 square metres are reserved for commercial and industrial land. The aim is to attract businesses and create local jobs to prevent Brunete from becoming a dormitory town dependent on the capital.
42% of the planned homes will have some form of official protection, representing nearly 5,000 properties, according to the Special Infrastructure Plan. The Brunete Town Hall has set up a municipal registry of applicants, although it is purely informational. Applications can be processed in person or through the council's digital office.
Requirements for accessing protected homes
The access requirements vary depending on the type of housing. To apply for a basic protection flat, the family income must not exceed 5.5 times the IPREM. For limited-price homes, the income limit is set at a maximum of 7.5 times this indicator. It is mandatory to have reached the age of majority or to be emancipated, to have legal residency in Spain, and not to own another residential property in the country, except for legal exceptions. The awardee must occupy the flat as their usual residence within one year of receiving the keys.
Environmental and transport conditions
The significant influx of new residents raises concerns about its impact on the environment and transport. According to the Official Bulletin of the Community of Madrid, very strict conditions have been established: building permits will not be granted for more than 2,808 homes until necessary road improvements are authorised and executed to ensure mobility in the area.
Currently, Brunete lacks a suburban train connection, making dependence on private cars and buses nearly total. This is compounded by ecological sensitivity: the municipality has 910 hectares of the Regional Park of the Middle Course of the Guadarrama River, a protected natural reserve. To compensate for the urban advance, environmental guidelines require the replanting of 50.60 hectares of land with native vegetation.
The urban plan for Brunete is one of the most ambitious in the Community of Madrid. Its progressive development over the next two decades will completely transform the municipality's landscape and demographics, changing it from a quiet rural locality to a medium-sized city with all the services that entails. Current residents and future inhabitants will need to adapt to a growth that, while bringing opportunities, also poses challenges in terms of mobility and sustainability.
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