Regional authorities have awarded the contract to renovate the former nursing home in Orihuela almost nine months after it was put up for urgent tender. The contract comes three years after regional social services representatives visited the property to determine a budget, which was eventually set at over 2 million euro. This increased the previous evaluation of 1,8 million euro, following its purchase four years ago for 4 million euro to house the future Oriol residence and regional social services.
At that time, regional leaders gave a firm commitment to give priority and speed to start work immediately, which has now materialised. Meanwhile, the building’s state of neglect has grown, prompting complaints from neighbours. At the same time, users with functional diversity and special needs from the Oriol residence have experienced a seven-year struggle, as described by the parents’ association AMPA, comparing it to an epic odyssey.
Families and users have been fighting both the regional government and Orihuela Town Council since the severe storm on 12th September 2019 flooded and destroyed their facilities, forcing them to evacuate by boat. They are working to restore full rights and normality, waiting for 30 displaced residence users to return to Orihuela from Torrevieja. Meanwhile, users of the Oriol Occupational Centre returned in January to the Palmeral building following council renovations.
The tender, which closed in February with a base budget of 5.949.814 euro, received seven bids. Proyme Ingeniería y Construcción won the contract with a proposal of 5.768.611 euro, representing a reduction of 181.203 euro. Although it was not the lowest bid—local company Doalco submitted a bid of 5.372.242 euro—the decision was not based solely on price. Criteria included extended work guarantees, quality analysis, measurement studies, and the use of recycled materials with environmental declarations, where the winning bid scored higher.
Other bids included Fulton at 5.862.946 euro, Abala Infraestructuras at 5.885.556 euro, Construcciones Urdecon at 5.868.500 euro, Guerola Infraestructuras at 5.943.864 euro, and Llop Proyectos Integrales at 5.949.814 euro.
The project execution period is 14 months. AMPA Oriol anticipates that the relocation to the asylum will not take place until mid-to-late 2028, more than nine years after the storm. Faced with constant delays and information opacity, families have held protests, gathered signatures, demonstrated at the local town council and in Valencia, and submitted multiple complaints to the regional ombudsman.
Following a recent campaign sending massive complaints to the regional government and requesting a meeting with regional leadership, the contract was finally awarded. AMPA Oriol president Antonio Trujillo stated that pressure works and warned that families will remain vigilant to ensure work begins before 31 December as outlined in the contract terms.
