The Balearic Government has set a lot of store by its schemes for affordable housing and by its administrative simplification legislation that was partly intended to expedite such schemes. The trouble is that individual projects can still end up stuck at town hall level, such as one for 44 apartments in Montuiri.
These are limited-price apartments which are available at below market values. There are one-bedroom apartments starting at €126,311 and two-bedroom apartments for €207,000.
Similar to a project recently announced in Andratx, this is for the completion of apartments that were left unfinished when the original builder went bankrupt. Building in accordance with regulations as they were at the time started in 2010. In order to proceed with the development, Montuiri Town Hall has had to make an amendment to its general urban plan, and there is a specific issue related to compensation.
Apartments were sold to future owners without having had the necessary permits. "This is not the fault of the town hall. We are working on it to be able to provide an answer, but it is not a simple process, explains the mayor, Antoni Miralles.
Meanwhile the revised urban plan has only passed its initial approval stage, and the provisional and final approvals are still pending. The town hall is also making the building permit contingent upon the developer undertaking the construction of a new road.