The Agüimes City Council has acquired over 40,000 m² of land in La Goleta from Sareb for €700,000. The operation will allow for the development of the third phase of the Housing Plan, with 1,700 rental homes at prices up to 50% lower than the market.
The City Council of Agüimes signed on Monday the purchase of more than 40,000 square meters of developable land in the La Goleta area from the Asset Management Company from Bank Restructuring (Sareb), for an amount of €700,000. The operation, which has been processed for over a year, represents a decisive step for the execution of the third phase of the municipality's Housing Plan.
A plan to alleviate the housing crisis
The mayor of Agüimes, Óscar Hernández, has highlighted the significance of this acquisition, which incorporates nearly 90% of the planned developable land in this sector into the municipal assets. “We can immediately lead its urban development,” he stated. The Agüimes Housing Plan, approved by the Plenary in June 2025, includes the construction of more than 1,700 protected homes in three phases, all intended for affordable rental.
The first phase already plans for 224 homes on public plots in Agüimes casco and Arinaga; the second will be developed in Cruce de Arinaga; and the third, now propelled by this purchase, will add 911 homes in La Goleta, Agüimes, and Cruce de Arinaga. The chosen model is that of public-private collaboration: private developers will build and manage the homes on public land, with rents at least 50% cheaper than those of the free market. After a concession period, the homes will become public property.
Next steps: urban development and bidding
Following the signing of the purchase, the Agüimes council will draft the urban development project for the area, a process expected to take between three and four months. Next will come the urbanization of the sector and the bidding for the construction and management projects of the future homes. The aim is to expedite the timelines so that the first developments can begin construction as soon as possible.
For the residents of Agüimes, this operation represents a real hope of accessing affordable housing in a context of skyrocketing prices across the island. The mayor has reminded that the plan aims to “respond to the housing crisis” and facilitate that young families and people with middle incomes can remain living in the municipality.
“The purchase of this land is a key piece to complete the Housing Plan and ensure that Agüimes residents have a home at a fair price,” stated Óscar Hernández.
With this acquisition, Agüimes positions itself at the forefront of Canary Islands municipalities in public housing policies. While other towns are waiting for funds or permits, here money has already been put on the table and land that had been unused for years in the hands of Sareb has been secured. The operation has also been made possible thanks to direct negotiation with the bad bank, which accepted a price significantly below the speculative value.
The third phase of the plan not only includes housing but also the urbanization of common spaces and the provision of basic services. The City Council expects that, once all three phases are completed, Agüimes will have a stock of protected housing that meets a significant part of local demand. Those interested in the future developments should keep an eye on upcoming bidding announcements, which will be published on the municipal bulletin board and the council's website.
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