Palma will have 323 new public homes next to the Palma Arena

PalmaThe Consell de Mallorca will transfer land in Palma free of charge to the Balearic Housing Institute (Ibavi) for the construction of 323 public protection homes, in what will be the largest development of its kind ever on the island.public protection homes, in what will be the largest development of its kind ever on the island.

This was announced this Monday by the president of the Consell, Llorenç Galmés, during the General Policy Debate, where he detailed that the land —measuring 45,341 square meters and located in the area of the Velòdrom Illes Balears (Palma Arena)— will allow for the construction of nearly 22,831 square meters. He did not explain the public housing scheme for the homes: whether they will be for rent, at a fixed price, or if another figure will be used or to what extent.

“It will be the largest development of public housing ever built in our land and it will be thanks to this government team,” stated Galmés, who stressed that the plots are valued at 4.6 million euros and are being transferred at no cost.

Social housing and new facilities

In exchange for the transfer, Ibavi will transfer 35 homes to the Council that will be used for social purposes, in addition to a 400-square-meter space that will become a cultural rehearsal center for artists.

It will also transfer a plot of 3,000 square meters where the future Children's House of the Mallorcan Institute of Social Affairs (IMAS) will be built.

According to Galmés, the agreement will be formalized in the coming weeks through an agreement and has been possible thanks to the collaboration between the Government and the Council.

The island president also argued that this transfer could have been made in the previous legislature if there had been "political will".

Boost to the second belt

During the same debate, Galmés also announced the start of works on the first section of the second ring road of Palma before the end of the legislature, scheduled for mid-2027.

This first section will cost 78 million euros and will consist of widening one lane per direction on the airport highway, using the median to avoid consuming more territory.

The project includes the creation of two new accesses. One will be at Coll d’en Rabassa, where the bridge passing over housing is to be removed, and the other will connect to Platja de Palma via a new bridge that will replace the current Coca-Cola bridge, which is in poor condition.

In addition, a stop will be provided for the future train line to Llucmajor.

The second phase of the second ring road will be built underground with a one-kilometer tunnel at the height of Son Ferriol, which will allow different sections of the ring road to be connected.

Apartments that will not arrive for five years

On the other hand, the Palma City Council and the Government plan to build 4,500 homes for residents in Palma and a similar number in the rest of the Balearic Islands to address the housing emergency. This plan is based on legislation promoted by Marga Prohens' Executive, focused on the promotion of strategic residential projects. The sector considers the figure to be reasonable, but warns that most of these homes will not be built before five years. The complexity of urban planning procedures, despite administrative simplification, and the lack of water in Palma are slowing down deadlines and moving away the political objective of seeing cranes before the elections.