The Mogán Council has been unable to attract any bids for the construction and management of 259 planned affordable homes for local residents in one of Gran Canaria’s main tourist hubs, leaving their public housing project in limbo.
Mayor Onalia Bueno has confirmed that the tender process had failed and said the local council is now actively exploring new options to bring construction companies on board.
The project was offered under a surface rights scheme, which allows private developers to build on publicly owned land with a lease of up to 75 years. However, the offer failed to draw interest from investors.
The tender included four plots of land for protected housing: two sites in El Motor Grande (202 homes), one in El Horno (29 homes), and one in Veneguera (28 homes).
The Mayor claims the financial limitations of the current housing framework, blaming the lack of interest on the maximum price per square metre set by the regional government. “To make these projects viable, the Government of the Canary Islands must raise the basic housing module from the current €1,905 to between €2,300 and €2,500 per square metre,” she said.
“The reference prices for social housing construction are set by the Canary Islands Government,” she explained, stressing that unless those limits are adjusted, there will be no new public housing developments in Gran Canaria unless the regional government steps in with direct financial support. She referred to past housing plans prior to 2008, where land, project costs, and buyer subsidies were covered with public funds.
Bueno also announced plans to relaunch the tender process for the Motor Grande, El Horno and Veneguera plots and hopes the new call will be open before the end of the summer. “We’re holding meetings this week to prepare a new tender,” she confirmed. “Our goal is to get this back on track as soon as possible.”
