Formentera launches Housing Office

foto 2023iii oficina habitatge A·The Consell and Balearic Government have signed a land transfer protocol to construct a new public housing development on the island.

Today Ana Juan, president of the Consell de Formentera; Josep Marí, mobility and housing minister of the Balearic Government, and Rafael Ramírez, the island's housing councillor, announced the launch of Formentera's new Housing Office and signed the land transfer protocol to build a new, ten-unit development of public housing in Sant Francesc. Alejandra Ferrer, vice-president of the Consell, and other cabinet councillors also attended the presentation.

The new office is a space where islanders will receive free support on housing issues. This service will centralise all the information related to housing, from rental subsidies to specialised assistance on leasing contracts and more.

President Juan called the opening "an important step to help islanders in need of social, technical and legal advice". "We are promoting public policies and initiatives to provide solutions to people who need housing on Formentera", she continued. She also pointed out that with the signing of the protocol, "we are adding a new social housing project on the island".

Minister Marí explained: "It is great news to offer people this service, particularly on an island like Formentera where the real estate market is highly pensioned". He added, "to ensure access to decent housing we need the involvement of all institutions, and with the Consell de Formentera, we have found it".

Councillor Ramírez also hailed the opening of the office, which will offer an essential service for the people of Formentera, and announced that "next week rental assistance for the year 2022 will be announced to the tune of €70,000". The councillor also pointed out that work is under way on an initiative to pool sustainable rental housing and two studies have been commissioned on the island's housing market.

New development
In addition, the transfer of a plot of land to build a new development in Sant Francesc, was also announced today. The Balearic Institute of Housing (IBAVI) will build a ten-unit development of social rental housing. This housing is intended for specific groups with temporary housing needs, typically young people and the elderly. Hence, intergenerational coexistence will allow for community spaces where inhabitants can carry out their daily activities.

The IBAVI built a 14-home development in Sant Ferran, which has been a pioneer in the new system of sustainable architecture that the IBAVI spearheads. Another development of 17 public housing units in Sant Ferran is currently in bidding, and today's protocol adds ten homes to the public housing stock on the island. This is a very significant increase, with a total of 41 more public housing units in the pipeline by the end of term.

11 March 2023
Office of Communication
Consell de Formentera