The province of Alicante has begun 2026 with record-breaking figures for new housing construction, with 3,418 homes registered—an increase of 25.3% compared to the previous year. However, despite this overall growth, the municipality of Elche has recorded the most significant decline in activity within the province.
According to the latest visa statistics from the Official College of Technical Architecture of Alicante (Coata), Elche started only 120 homes during the first quarter. This represents a substantial decrease of 54.4% compared to the 263 homes started in the previous quarter. When compared to the first quarter of 2025, when 233 homes were initiated, the reduction stands at 48.5%.
This downturn in Elche is not a one-off event but part of a negative trend, with the area experiencing declines in three of the last four quarters. The interior of the province is seeing a similar pattern, with 111 homes started in the quarter, marking a 42.2% drop from the previous three-month period and a 31.1% decrease compared to the same period in 2025.
In terms of total volume over the last twelve months, Vega Baja remains the leading area for new starts with 4,981 homes, followed by the Alicante area with 667 and the Marinas zone with 548. Elche and the provincial interior currently sit at the bottom of the list for construction activity.
Despite the cooling market in some sectors, construction costs continue to rise. The average execution cost per square metre has increased by 7.1% since the start of the year. While the province as a whole shows solid growth, primarily driven by the Vega Baja region, the figures for Elche suggest a notable shift in the local property development landscape.
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