The housing shortage has become a major challenge for the Valencia metropolitan area. While the population has steadily grown, housing construction has lagged significantly behind. Over the past 15 years, approximately 5,000 new homes have been built annually in Valencia and its surrounding region, an insufficient figure to meet demand, which in the capital alone increased by 17,000 inhabitants last year. This imbalance has driven up prices and exacerbated access issues.
The sector has long called for the unblocking of major urban development projects in municipalities well-connected to Valencia to boost housing production. The concept of a "Gran Valencia," where the capital and its metropolitan area act in a connected manner, is gaining traction. To expand the residential and industrial stock, the Generalitat Valenciana, via its Directorate General of Urban Planning, has commissioned the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) to draft a plan identifying new development areas.
This document, led by urban planner Alejandro Escribano, has a dual objective: to support local reconstruction plans post-Dana, facilitating new business and housing development in affected municipalities, and to identify available land, both residential and logistical, that can be developed quickly. Special attention will be given to areas impacted by floods to stimulate economic recovery.
The work, part of a collaboration agreement between the Generalitat and the UPV, is well underway. Once conclusions are available, the aim is to extend this initiative to other major urban areas in the Valencian Community, such as Castellón, Elche, and Alicante. The project's start in Valencia addresses the need to revitalize municipalities affected by the Dana, as part of the 'Plan Endavant'.
Population growth necessitates seeking new expansion zones. In addition to this Consell plan, the Valencia City Council has also tasked Professor Joan Romero with developing the framework for a Metropolitan Area Master Plan for Valencia. The goal is to enhance inter-municipal coordination and jointly address challenges such as housing, mobility, land management, and public services.
