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A previously unused plot of land behind the church in Cartagena’s La Concepción neighbourhood is set for new life, as the City Council prepares to build between 15 and 20 affordable homes.

 

The 1,500 square metre site was visited this week by Mayor Noelia Arroyo, alongside Councillors Diego Ortega and Pablo Braquehais and council technicians. Arroyo described the project as a vital opportunity to offer affordable housing to young people and families with middle incomes in one of Cartagena’s most sought-after areas.

 

“This is the first of many actions in our Municipal Housing Strategy,” the mayor said. “The urbanisation plans are ready, funding is secured, and construction will start soon.” The new homes will mainly be one and two-bedroom properties, which are the sizes most in demand locally.

 

The city’s housing strategy goes well beyond La Concepción. Over the coming years, the council aims to deliver around 300 new homes on various municipally owned sites. This includes reforms to planning rules, new management models, tax incentives, and the mobilisation of public and private land.

 

Collaboration is also key. A housing chair has been set up with the Polytechnic University of Cartagena to assist with urban planning documentation for the city’s public land. Licences have already been granted for new student accommodation, with over 130 rooms to be built on Caballero Street and Plaza de la Merced.

 

Efforts are also under way to boost construction on state-owned land. The council has provided SEPES with details on plots held by SAREB in Molinos Marfagones, which could yield about 140 homes. This month, an auction process will start for unused building plots in Cartagena’s Old Town, where 221 new homes and 97 rooms have received building permit applications since a compulsory building process was introduced.

 

For Mayor Arroyo, the La Concepción development is a symbolic milestone. It turns a long-empty plot into homes that meet local needs, while clearly showing the council’s commitment to improving housing throughout Cartagena.

 

 

Image: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena