Territorial policy drives planning push: Pájara's urban plan set for before summer

The municipality of Pájara could have its General Urban Planning Plan (PGOU) ready before the summer, once the environmental assessment of the document is completed.

The statement was made by the Regional Minister of Territorial Policy, Territorial Cohesion and Water, Manuel Miranda, after a recent meeting at the Pájara Town Hall. Miranda confirmed that the council “has already finalized a definitive document” for the General Urban Plan.

The text now must undergo a strategic environmental assessment by the autonomous environmental authority – a procedure that, according to Miranda, is already underway thanks to the coordination between administrations.

“Practically, the matters are almost settled,” the minister emphasized, highlighting the strong alignment between the regional government and the southern municipality.

Once the environmental report and the corresponding opinions are issued, the document will be sent to the municipal plenary for final approval.

“Probably, before the summer we can have that document finished and approved,” Miranda added.

Driving Planning Forward to Advance Development and Housing

Miranda argued that strengthening planning is essential to address the chronic housing shortage across the islands, a problem that most municipalities in Fuerteventura face, except Betancuria.

“Having outdated, ill‑adapted regulations prevents agile urban development,” he warned, noting that this situation hinders both housing promotion and investment.

The regional government is focusing much of its effort on municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants, where a lack of specialized technical staff slows down file processing and the release of land for housing.

“If there is no planning, municipalities lack the capacity to move forward,” the minister reiterated.

To mitigate this, Miranda recalled that the Ministry has activated several support tools:

• Annual financing for municipal planning.
• A technical advisory office managed by Gesplan.
• The Demographic Challenge Office, which provides legal, technical, and administrative assistance to municipalities under 10,000 residents that have limited management capacity.

“We are supporting municipalities from the government so they can be more agile and resolve their issues much faster,” he said.

Miranda concluded by stressing that up‑to‑date planning instruments are indispensable for tackling the housing deficit and ensuring orderly development.

“If there is no planning, we cannot progress,” he concluded, underscoring that boosting municipal planning is a top priority for the Canary Islands Government in this legislative term.