A firm commitment to affordable housing
In a strategic move that could transform the European real estate landscape, Madrid has unveiled its ambitious plan to increase the supply of affordable housing during the international fair Mipim 2026, held in Cannes. The Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, emphasised that the Spanish capital has a unique capacity to generate land and build housing, thanks to its institutional stability and effective collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Almeida firmly stated: "There is no other city in Europe that has the capacity to generate land and affordable housing like Madrid does." This commitment is materialised through the Plan Suma, where the City Council will allocate land to private companies to develop blocks of affordable rental housing. The third phase of this plan will include new land located in areas such as Valdecarros and Solana de Valdebebas.
The most notable projects at this edition of Mipim are Valdecarros and Nuevo Norte, which are set to bring nearly 200,000 new homes to the market in the coming years. Almeida emphasised the importance of joint work between public administrations and the private sector to unlock urban initiatives that had been stalled for years, such as the Campamento operation.
To facilitate this growth, significant reforms are being implemented in urban regulations that will allow for more agile planning. Almeida highlighted that those developers capable of accelerating their projects will receive building bonuses, thus incentivising faster construction: "The faster they build, the more building capacity they will have," he stated.
The mayor also stressed that attracting and retaining talent is essential for the future of major cities. "Talent needs a place to live," Almeida emphasised, who believes that ensuring access to housing is fundamental to achieving this goal.
Throughout the event, Almeida has held meetings with European political leaders and representatives from the real estate sector to exchange strategies on urban development and access to housing. In his speech, he celebrated how Madrid has managed to position itself among the great cities of the world: "Now we are in the place we deserve."
As this international summit on global urban challenges progresses, Almeida concluded by stating: "We have an extraordinary opportunity to tell the world that there is a city claiming its place on the global stage."
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