The developers association in the Balearics maintains that the building of some 10,000 new homes in Mallorca has been delayed for years because of the lack of necessary permits issued by the Balearic Government's water resources department.
Excessive bureaucracy and staff shortages are blamed for an issue that doesn't just affect the current government; it is a longstanding one. The association says the Balearic Environment Commission used to be the main source of delays. This commission has been eliminated, but the problem has been transferred to the water resources department.
The department acknowledges the problem, emphasising that a top priority has been to address the inherited situation. "In 2023, we found ourselves with a backlog of more than 4,000 pending cases, some with delays exceeding two years. Since then, this burden has been reduced thanks to various measures that have been implemented."
The department points to the approval of "decree laws and regulatory changes to streamline and clarify procedures, an internal reorganisation plan, reinforcement of technical staff, and a strong push for digitalisation". Processing times are being shortened.
The current government identified the environment commission as an obstacle to development, but it also referred to the water resources department in this regard. There may have been some improvements, but Proinba suggests there haven't been anything like enough.
The association points out that many people may be unaware of the fact that municipalities like Marratxi, to give one example, have flood-prone areas. Developments therefore require favourable reports from the department. "This results in a very high workload."
As to average processing times for permit applications, the department explains this is very difficult to know because each application is different. "Some can be resolved in three months, while others, due to their greater complexity or the required corrections, may take longer." In some cases, it can take up to two years.