The Gipuzkoa Provincial Council has raised its budget by 10% this year for the aid program designed to support smaller municipalities in developing their urban plans. These subsidies cover a portion of the costs associated with drafting urban planning documents, which local councils in towns with fewer than 7,000 inhabitants must undertake.
The funding can cover up to 50% of the costs, increasing to 75% for towns with fewer than 2,500 residents, and up to 90% for those with fewer than 500. In all instances, the maximum aid amount is 30,000 euros. Last year, ten municipalities benefited from this program, including Alkiza, Ataun, and Getaria.
“"Ataun had an urban plan approved in 2005, and in the last legislature, we realized it was obsolete and that renewing these regulations was essential. We are a small town by population but large in extension, and the renewal of the General Urban Planning Plan (PGOU) represents a very significant investment, around 300,000 euros. That is why we need the collaboration of the Provincial Council. Otherwise, we would not be able to make other types of investments for a couple of years."
The Deputy for Mobility, Tourism, and Territorial Planning, Azahara Domínguez, presented the main guidelines of the program for 2026 this Wednesday, accompanied by two mayors who benefited last year. They emphasized the importance of updating urban plans, both to renew outdated regulations and to address future challenges.
“"Getaria began the process of updating its PGOU in 2025, aiming to adapt the 2008 regulations to current needs and future challenges. The PGOU will shape the future of the region and, therefore, the daily lives of different generations. Doing this work, and doing it well, involves a significant financial contribution, and the subsidies alleviate the limited budget that small towns have."
Domínguez highlighted that the program's objective is to help smaller localities advance their urban planning, enabling them to incorporate current challenges such as sustainability, urban regeneration, and climate change into their municipal planning. She stressed that all municipalities in Gipuzkoa, regardless of their size, must have the necessary resources to plan future-oriented urban development.
