The project for 220 social housing rental flats in the La Térmica area, right in the heart of Malaga city's 'golden mile', is finally ... getting under way.
On Friday, the city council put out to tender the concession for the land next to the southern section of Avenida de Imperior Argentina.
The development falls under the exemption that allows social housing on land for public facilities. The flats will be temporary rental properties, with tenancies lasting no more than seven years, except in the case of homes intended for the elderly.
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The city council will hand over the nine-million-euro plot of land free of charge to the developer that wins the tender for a period of 75 years. One of the conditions is that 70 per cent of the temporary social housing units must go to young people. The remainder may be allocated to older people and vulnerable households, such as families with an income of less than five times the IPREM (public multiple-effect income indicator).
Behind this initiative lies the proposal of Fundación Unicaja's property developer (LiveUpp). However, the city council cannot transfer the land directly, which is why it has launched a public tender so that interested parties besides Unicaja's developer may submit bids. The deadline is 16 November.
The tender requirements stipulate a minimum of 200 social housing units and a maximum of 220, with at least 55 per cent comprising one-bedroom flats of approximately 45 square metres and a maximum of 40 per cent of two-bedroom flats, with a usable area of approximately 60 square metres, as well as a maximum of five per cent of three- or four-bedroom flats, with a usable area of 90 square metres.
In addition, at least 15 per cent must be set aside for communal areas and facilities dedicated to "social, employment, educational, sporting and community development", which must also be made available to local residents.
The maximum floor area is set at 19,000 square metres and the development may have a maximum height of ground floor plus three storeys, "with an attic above this height if necessary to implement the planned architectural design".
The rent may not exceed 4.5 per cent per year of the maximum value of the social housing unit, depending on the scheme for which the concessionaire opts. The rent will be set in such a way as to reward developers who submit bids, based on the reduction they propose in relation to that maximum.
The city council is offering to subsidise the complex's construction at a rate of 400 euros per square metre of usable floor area, up to a maximum of 18,000 euros per dwelling, provided that the concessionaire does not apply for grants offered under schemes run by other public authorities.
It also requires specific deadlines for the approval and implementation of the project, to ensure that the works do not drag on indefinitely.