The Town Council, having joined the Housing Decree of the Junta de Andalucía, can plan almost a thousand social housing (VPO) units on municipal land that until now had other public uses

To this initiative must be added two other projects that will mean the construction of 308 social housing (VPO) units in the Camino de Cortes sector.

The full council meeting of Estepona Town Council has today unanimously approved the municipal use compatibility that will make it possible to authorise a total of 36 municipal plots for the construction of protected housing.

This has been possible thanks to the Town Council’s adherence to Decree-Law 1/2025 on urgent housing measures, approved by the Junta de Andalucía, to promote the construction of social housing (VPO). The regional text allows the construction of public rental housing on facility plots that until now have had no residential use, without the need to modify the planning instruments, which speeds up social housing (VPO) projects.

Since last April, when the Town Council joined this regional initiative, municipal technicians have been working on the list of public plots that could have this social use. Based on the parameters set out in Estepona’s General Urban Development Plan (PGOU), a total of 738 homes could be built on the aforementioned land, which is spread throughout the municipality.

The mayor, José María García Urbano, explained that this is an important social measure that has been possible once the regulatory instrument enabling it became available. These plots are located in sectors where the sufficiency of public facilities required by the population is guaranteed by other facility land already developed and/or planned in their vicinity.

The mayor recalled that alongside this measure, work is under way on other initiatives to make access to housing easier for those with the most difficulties. In this regard, it should be mentioned that in addition to freeing up these almost 40 plots for social housing (VPO), the Town Council will put out to tender in the coming days four plots where another 200 public homes for rent can be built. These properties, which will be located in both the east and west of the municipality, will have an affordable rental price to facilitate access to housing for young people or for residents with fewer resources.

To these initiatives must be added two other projects that will mean the construction of 308 social housing (VPO) units in the Camino de Cortes sector. Specifically, two preliminary urban planning projects have already been approved for the construction of 110 protected homes in the Camino de Cortes Sur area, and, on the other hand, tender specifications are being finalised to put out to tender two more plots that will allow the construction of 199 social housing (VPO) units in Camino de Cortes Norte.

This tender will have two legal particularities that will make it possible for this land to be acquired even at zero cost, which would result in a lower final price for the homes. In this regard, he pointed out that the plots earmarked for social housing (VPO) will go out to tender with a maximum price set by the Town Council itself, so that those interested in building will have the opportunity to offer a lower amount for them. In addition, companies bidding to build those social housing (VPO) units will receive a higher score from the contracting panel when they offer a lower final price to the buyers of those homes.

As for the development planned in the Camino de Cortes Sur sector, the Town Council has approved the two preliminary urban planning projects and the building licence will be granted in the coming days.

Likewise, the Town Council continues processing other urban planning projects that will allow the construction of 300 social housing (VPO) units on the Camino de Monterroso and another 800 in the Guadalobón and Arroyo Vaquero areas.

Approval of ordinances on Personal Mobility Vehicles (VMP)

During the full council meeting, the Ordinance Regulating the Circulation and Use of Personal Mobility Vehicles (VMP) was also given final approval, incorporating the general regulations of the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT). This regulates both the penalties for failing to comply with no-entry signs and other basic rules for the use of VPMs. These include the ban on riding on pavements or urban tunnels, or using headphones or a mobile phone while riding.

The aim of this municipal regulation is to reinforce the commitment to improving public space and road safety, and to back new modes of mobility, clean energy, quality of life and peaceful coexistence among citizens.

The new ordinance will promote road safety and ensure that Personal Mobility Vehicles are used in a way that complies with state regulations and is safe, making it compatible with the different uses of public roads. It also establishes the conditions of use of this type of vehicle, clarifying the requirements for riding them, and setting out the framework of sanctioning powers in this area.

Appointment of Favourite Sons and Daughters of Estepona

Estepona Town Council has today unanimously agreed to award the titles of Favourite Sons and Daughters of Estepona to former councillor María Miralles, guitarist José Fernández, and teacher and historian Francisco Medina. The appointments will take place at the official ceremony to be held on Andalusia Day.

María Miralles was a councillor for the PSOE for 16 years, a pioneer in equality policies, promoting the creation of the Women’s Information Centre and offering direct and close support to victims of gender-based violence. At the same time, she carried out intense cultural and community activity as director and writer of the theatre group of the Asociación de Mujeres Peñas Blancas.

José Fernández is an outstanding flamenco guitarist whose artistic and teaching career has contributed significantly to the spread of flamenco internationally. Throughout his career, he has accompanied renowned singers and dancers, and has successfully toured internationally. He has also carried out outstanding teaching work, training generations of guitarists who today enjoy great recognition.

Francisco Medina has been headteacher of IES Monterroso and a maths teacher much loved by several generations of people from Estepona. After his retirement, he has developed a career as a writer of works that recount episodes from Estepona’s history. In addition, his altruistic work with the Parkinson Sol association, with which he collaborates regularly, deserves mention.

Reduction in average supplier payment period

Estepona Town Council today presented a report from the Municipal Treasury stating that the average supplier payment period was 16 days, one of the lowest recorded among public administrations in Spain.

The deputy mayor for the Economic area, Ana Vilaseca, explained that this is an important figure because it highlights “the rigour with which this Town Council works every time it contracts a job or service”. In this regard, she recalled that in June 2011 this governing team found a “devastating” figure, namely that the previous governing team took an average of 1,492 days to pay invoices submitted by suppliers.