Errenteria's Urban Planning Councilor, Eneko del Amo, has described the Gamongoa project as "enormous," detailing plans for up to 755 new homes in the area between the Txirrita Maleo and Pontika industrial estates. This initiative is moving forward after the Governing Team adopted Law 6/2025 on Urgent Measures in Housing, Land, and Urban Planning, approved by the Basque Parliament, aimed at speeding up the construction of protected housing and strategic residential areas like Gamongoa.
The new law allows for an adjustment of urban planning and an increase of up to 10% in urban buildability compared to initial plans. Thus, the 679 homes originally planned for this location will increase by approximately 70, adding a significant number. The City Council anticipates that 75% of the constructed homes will be public housing, thereby "reinforcing the public housing stock in Errenteria," stated del Amo.
Furthermore, the Preliminary Project for Priority Action allows for the direct integration of a municipal plot into the Basque Government's Public Land Heritage for the development of public rental housing in Errenteria. This tool will provide land for the construction of 100 public rental units, a "not insignificant" matter according to del Amo, who emphasizes that "institutions must work hand in hand to solve a problem that affects thousands of people."
Beyond housing, the development will create "city," as del Amo puts it. A large central plaza is planned as the neighborhood's heart, surrounded by 500 square meters for commerce, hospitality, and local services, which could significantly impact the local commercial scene. "Building housing is the basic part, but it must be surrounded by infrastructure that allows for the creation of a vibrant neighborhood," he explained.
Two plots totaling over 9,500 square meters are reserved for public facilities. One will be allocated to the Basque Government's Department of Education for a new school, while the other is intended to enhance the municipality's sports facilities.
Eneko del Amo acknowledges that a project like Gamongoa requires "enormous work," but is confident in the streamlining provided by Law 6/2025. The formal processing by developers began last Monday, with approval by the Governing Team expected in July. Following the presentation of the Basic Project for Priority Action and a public information period, construction is anticipated to commence "at the end of 2027 or the beginning of 2028."
The scale of the new Gamongoa area, with over 700 homes, will lead to a significant influx of residents. Consequently, the construction will be accompanied by essential services. Approximately 900 residential parking spaces will be built, along with nearly 400 public parking spaces, primarily located at the neighborhood's northern, central, and southern ends. Additionally, the new buildings will include community parking for around 1,100 bicycles.
Regarding connectivity with the neighboring Pontika district, the project includes the creation of 700 meters of segregated cycle lanes linking Gamongoa and Pontika, serving the Masti-Loidi and Txirrita-Maleo industrial areas. The bicycle parking network will be further enhanced with over 200 new public spaces.
The PSE-EE of Errenteria has positively assessed the project's momentum, though they recall that EH Bildu "qualified as a historic error" the law they are now utilizing. Isaac Palencia, the socialist spokesperson, stated that "we consider any measure that increases housing supply in the municipality to be good news for the residents of Errenteria."
However, the socialists find it "difficult to understand" the current municipal government's shift, noting the contradiction between reducing planned housing from 690 to 588 in 2022 and now announcing an increase to 755. They argue that this "succession of contradictory decisions demonstrates a lack of clear housing strategy" and contributes to Errenteria's long-standing "serious problems of access to housing."
