The municipal government of Vitoria-Gasteiz and the Elkarrekin municipal group have agreed an ordinance to convert nearly a thousand premises into housing

The municipal governmentof Vitoria-Gasteiz (PSE-PNV) and the municipal group Elkarrekin have concluded an agreement for the adoption of the new municipal ordinance for the adaptation of premises and workshop housing on the ground floor. 

With the final approval and entry into force of the new ordinance, a thousand premises may be converted into houses or workshops in the city in the future.

Mayor Maider Etxebarria has valued the new agreement reached by the municipal government with opposition groups, which will be added to those reached in previous weeks on other issues such as the Animal Welfare Ordinance.

With this ordinance, we defend the social function of housing and promote urban regeneration, since a thousand premises will be able to be converted into homes on the ground floor. In addition, we have set Etxebide's criteria for future transmissions, closing the door to speculation.

With regard to the Taller-Housing formula, the Mayor of Vitoria-Gasteiz believes that that will facilitate"a residential alternative that restricts travel withinthe city. " 

In this regard, the councillor of the Elkarrekin Group, Oscar Fernandez, has stressed the willingness of the municipal government to accept all the proposals put forward in this area, noting that they have succeeded in incorporating fundamental guarantees into the ordinance, in order tohelp alleviatethe problem of access to housing in Vitoria-Gasteiz .

According to the Elkarrekin municipal group, this should serve to increase the protected and affordable rental park and not just the number of residential properties.

One of the proposals agreed between the municipal government and Elkarrekin is the amendment of Article 19.3, according to which when the transformation of the premises is promoted by the City Council, the Ensanche 21 society or other public administrations, the resulting housing shall have as its priority purpose the protected rental and/or rent for young people .

Another of the contributions made envisages that housing generated by these transformations can be included in the Bizigune programmefor use in protected leases. 

A new request made by Elkarrekin shall be included in the final article of the new ordinance, stating that such new dwellings shall be used as the habitual residence of the holder, and that their use as a second dwelling, tourist dwelling or any other use shall be expressly prohibited.

The final document and the adoption of the opinion will be discussed at the Model City Commission on 19 October.