The Canary Islands Government has renewed its call for changes to Spain’s Public Sector Contracts Law, arguing that a special fast-track procedure is needed to accelerate the construction of public housing across the archipelago.
The request was made yesterday (Tuesday) by Pablo Rodríguez during a session of the Canary Islands Parliament, where housing shortages and rising property costs remain among the region’s most pressing concerns.
Current Rules Still Cause Delays
Responding to questions from Socialist Party MP Marcos Bergaz, Rodríguez explained that existing emergency procurement procedures already allow tendering deadlines to be reduced from 30 days to 15 days. However, he argued that the system remains too slow when legal appeals are lodged against projects.
According to the minister, any appeal can delay a housing development by two to three months, creating a significant obstacle at a time when the Canary Islands remains under an officially declared housing emergency.
Housing Treated Like Any Other Public Project
Rodríguez criticised the current national legislation for treating public housing projects in exactly the same way as other public works.“The same procedure is used to tender a housing development as is used for a public square, a sports centre or a garden,” he said.
For that reason, the regional government is calling for a dedicated procurement route specifically designed for public housing developments, allowing projects to move through administrative procedures more quickly.
More Than 2,000 Homes Underway
The minister defended the government's housing record, stating that more public housing is currently being developed than at any previous point in recent years.
He said that more than 2,000 homes have already been launched or are currently being promoted by the regional government.
Rodríguez insisted that housing-related projects are being prioritised wherever possible to help address the ongoing shortage of affordable homes affecting communities across the islands.
Opposition Calls for Greater Clarity
During the debate, Bergaz urged the government to fully implement the existing housing decree law and honour its commitments under the housing emergency declaration.
The Socialist deputy also called for all protected housing projects to receive priority treatment and requested clarification on whether developments managed by the Instituto Canario de la Vivienda (ICAVI) and VISOCAN are being processed through emergency procedures.
Housing Crisis Remains a Major Challenge
The discussion reflects growing pressure on public authorities to deliver affordable housing more quickly in the Canary Islands, where rising rents, limited supply and increasing demand continue to affect both local residents and key workers.
The regional government argues that without changes to national procurement rules, administrative delays will continue to slow the delivery of new homes, despite the urgency of the housing crisis facing the islands.
