Machico's municipal council has unanimously approved a partial suspension of its master plan. The move is meant to unblock two large-scale hotel investments, broadcaster RTP Madeira reported on 12 November.
The suspension affects the Plano Diretor Municipal, the territorial plan known as the PDM that normally governs what can be built where. Councillors from every party backed the change, according to the report.
Council Approves Suspension by Unanimous Vote
All of Machico's political forces supported the decision, RTP Madeira said. The council argued that two specific zones should not have to wait for the planning instrument to be revised before hotel investment could move in.
We suspended the PDM exactly because we believe these two zones should not have to wait for a revision of the plan for this investment to happen.
Machico's Municipal Council
Dom Pedro Site Covers 6,000 Square Metres
One of the two plots sits next to Dom Pedro, covering about 6,000 square metres. The report did not give further detail on what will be built there or by whom.
Political Force | Seats | Role |
PS (Socialist Party) | 4 | Governing majority (led by Mayor Hugo Marques) |
PSD / CDS-PP Coalition (Social Democratic Party & People's Party) | 3 | Opposition |
Misericórdia Hillside Plot Spans Over 7 Hectares
The second, much larger plot lies on the Misericórdia hillside and spans more than 7 hectares. Together, the two sites are the target of the council's partial suspension.
Council Sets 24-Month Horizon for Ground Work
The council expects licensing procedures to move forward as soon as next year. It is working toward a horizon of up to 24 months before construction becomes visible on either site.
We are working here with a horizon of up to a maximum of two years to actually see something emerge on the ground, which will be the first consequence of this suspension of the PDM.
Machico's Municipal Council
PSD Backs Plan but Wants Broader Housing Suspension
The opposition PSD voted in favour, but argued the council should have gone further. It wanted the suspension to also cover land earmarked for housing.
We believe this suspension is, in fact, important for Machico's development, but it should have been broader.
PSD, Machico's Opposition Party
PSD said it had recommended extending the measure to collective housing projects, not just hotels. It pointed to delays in the wider PDM revision as a brake on the municipality's development. The party argued Machico has a pressing need for housing, whether offered at reduced cost or not.
For now, the suspension stays limited to the two hotel sites. The required procedures must still run their course before the measure takes legal effect.
Source: madeira.rtp.pt
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