The local council in Benijófar has opened the bidding process to allocate 30 municipal plots of land where young residents can build their own homes. Under a self-build scheme, successful applicants will not have to buy the land or pay a fee for its use. The initiative is structured as a public domain administrative concession lasting a maximum of 75 years, aiming to improve access to primary housing amidst rising market prices.
The tender, published in the Official Gazette of the Alicante Province, involves two municipal plots on Calle Formentera, which will host a complex of 30 semi-detached single-family homes. Applicants have 45 calendar days from the day following the announcement’s publication to submit their requests.
This model does not involve selling public land. Beneficiaries receive the right to use the plot to construct their main home, while ownership of the land remains with the municipality. At the end of the 75-year concession period, both the land and the buildings will revert to the council. Furthermore, the contract specifies that the concession is exempt from any fee payments due to the public interest and social function of the housing project.
The plots cover an area of 4,153.65 square metres and have building capacity for 30 semi-detached houses. Each home will have a plot of around 120 square metres and a maximum buildable area of 166.14 square metres, based on the basic project designed by the local council. The standard planned property will feature two floors, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living-dining room with an integrated kitchen, a utility room, and an outdoor terrace.
Access to the scheme is restricted to individuals aged between 18 and 45 who can prove they have been registered on the municipal roll in Benijófar for at least 18 years. If the number of applications exceeds the 30 available plots, the council will use a scoring system. This system will prioritise people who do not own another property, have dependent children, and have been registered on the town roll for a longer duration.
The future successful applicants must cover the full construction cost of the house, as well as its ongoing maintenance and preservation. The contract allows for financing the construction works through mortgage loans and permits access to public housing construction grants issued by different administrations. Additionally, the local council will draw up the basic architectural project, which each concession holder will use as a foundation to process their detailed execution project and corresponding building licence.
The competitive bidding process does not require financial guarantees from participants. Following the public consultation period, which concluded without any objections, the local council has given final approval to both the basic project and the terms and conditions governing this unique housing formula.