The local government board has greenlit this substitution with the aim of facilitating access to housing and speeding up deadlines. Mayor Joaquín Villanova indicated that they are considering modifying building typologies to increase height and accommodate more housing units in this development, which covers 273,173 square meters and will nearly double the urban area of Torrealquería.
The project, with initial partial plans and agreements dating back to 2006 and 2008, had been stalled for two decades. The involvement of SAREB (the state-dependent Asset Management Company for Banking Restructuring), which acquired most of the land, created a deadlock that has now been overcome after months of negotiations. In June, the council formalized the direct purchase of plots and mortgage credits from the state entity, assuming majority legal standing.
Villanova has estimated the investment for land acquisition at over one million euros. The shift to the cooperation system, according to the mayor, will allow the City Council to "take the lead" in urbanizing the sector and building the VPO, avoiding the high costs and complex administrative procedures associated with expropriation.
The cooperation system, unlike expropriation, avoids the payment of full compensation for the land, distributing urbanization costs among property owners and ensuring greater agility and savings for public funds. The land's patrimonial value is estimated at around 12 million euros.
The mayor also recalled other VPO projects in the municipality, such as the allocation of a plot in Torrealquería for 50 homes, and other developments in La Huertecilla and La Calera that could add another 120. Villanova emphasized the need for legislative changes to expedite land availability and construction amidst a "severe housing shortage" in Spain.
To apply for social housing in the municipality, it is essential to be registered in the corresponding registry, for which the City Council offers an online tool at vivienda.alhaurindelatorre.es.
