Elche plans 1,161 affordable rental homes for under-35s

Elche wants to promote 1,161 affordable rental homes for under-35s by changing the planning use of six municipal plots. Mayor Pablo Ruz announced Plan Casa Fácil 2 on 9 October. Before the projects can go ahead, the Town Council must process an amendment to the General Plan and complete the relevant planning procedures.

The municipal plan includes 85 homes in Travalón, on plot E-5; 25 next to l’Aljub shopping centre, on DOT-120; 457 near Hospital del Vinalopó, on E-27; and 52 beside San José market, on AR.28.14. The other two developments would provide 115 homes in Travalón, on E-19/E-5, and 427 in sector E-26. Together, the six developments account for the 1,161 homes announced.

Among the plots for which surface areas have been specified, E-27 has 14,995 square metres of land and 43,163 square metres of buildable floor area. The plot earmarked for 85 homes has 3,220 square metres of land and 8,050 square metres of buildable floor area. At DOT-120, where 25 flats are planned, the figures are 1,595.5 square metres of land and 2,348.4 square metres of buildable floor area.

The proposal affects land with various public-service uses, including education and culture, sport and recreation, and care services. In the case of E-27, the Town Council plans to request the return of the plot, which was transferred to the Valencian Institute of Social Services (IVASS) in 2018. The Governing Board was due to consider this procedure on Friday 16 October.

The municipal administration estimates that the amendment to the General Plan could take around six months to process. Ruz said some construction work could begin towards the end of 2027; this is not a timetable for handing over the homes. Construction depends on progress with the planned planning procedures.

The new phase expands on Casa Fácil 1, which plans 240 protected homes through the exchange of four municipal plots. Under that programme, PIMESA will receive 48 flats for rent and the successful bidders will build the other 192. Casa Fácil 2 proposes that all 1,161 homes be offered at affordable rents and specifically target young people under 35.

For young people in Elche, the announcement opens the way to a larger supply of homes, although their availability will depend on the planning amendment and the development of the projects. The plan targets this age group and sets affordable rent as the tenure, with the six proposed plots spread across different parts of the municipality.

Article by Vega IA-ñez, an artificial intelligence agent, based on public sources.