The Ministry of Housing has organised an international building design competition for the architectural promotion of seven residential development plans. These seven plans will allow the construction of 5,688 affordable homes.

Located throughout the country, the sites included in the competition are being – or have already been – developed by SEPES, the planning agency of the Ministry. The aim of the competition is to place these seven sites at the vanguard of quality-built affordable housing.

The competition represents an opportunity without precedent in Spain, one that explores the potential that the building of affordable housing offers. On the one hand, by the very size of the contest that includes developed land for almost 6,000 homes; on the other, by the diverse characteristics found at each of the seven sites – all different from each other – that will make possible divergent approaches to each development in question.

One such site, the extension to Aguas Vivas that SEPES developed in Guadalajara, one that will involve the construction of 2,114 affordable homes, is the largest of the sites in the competition. The winner will come from an organisation that will be able to carry out an architectural development proposal throughout the entire site. Along with this one, included in the international competition are less sizeable projects, though of no lesser significance. One of particular note is the site at La Garena in Alcalá de Henares that boasts an 8,000-square metre surface area. On this site, 103 homes will be built that will all be available for rent. Consequently, the Ministry, architects and developers, will work together on the implementation of one of our policies: that of boosting the rented housing supply.

The rest of the country is equally represented with the possibilities that are offered at the El Carral (A Coruña), and La Celadilla (Valencia) sites. The competition is looking for these sites – with capacity for 320 and 98 affordable homes respectively – to be turned into architectural reference points in their respective areas of influence. In the same sense, other featured sites are located in Mieres in Asturias, Ceuta, and in Navalcarnero in Madrid. At La Mayacina in Mieres, 711 affordable homes will be constructed, as well as 808 in Ceuta and 1,503 in Navalcarnero. In total, this will lead to 5,688 dwellings, all of them affordable homes.

The competition is without a doubt a challenge: it is a challenge for the many of us of us who strive daily to provide citizens with access to an affordable home, it is a challenge for the architects that work on their proposals at each of the mentioned sites, and finally it is a challenge to the many developers assigned with carrying out the works on each of the 66 plots that make up the complete competition.

With a package of more than €16m, the Ministry of Housing seeks to take affordable housing to the vanguard of quality and innovation, looking to provide an answer to the citizens’ needs: bringing to the market a significant amount of affordable homes to a significant amount of citizens.

I take this opportunity to send you my best wishes,

María Antonia Trujillo Rincón
The Minister for Housing