Otxarkoaga, one of Bilbao's most in-demand residential areas, will soon be home to 48 new official protection homes designated for rent. The Basque Government has purchased a plot in the OT.01.1 Zizuruena sub-area, approving an investment of 1,773,468.20 euros. This acquisition will add the land to Euskadi's public land registry.
Denis Itxaso, the Minister of Housing and Urban Agenda, emphasized that "this action responds to the need to increase the public housing stock in a city where the demand for protected housing remains structural and sustained."
The land was acquired from the company Alma Serges S.L., and the Basque Government stated that the purchase was made "within the valuation limits established for land" intended for public housing. Furthermore, as these will be protected rental properties, a "50% reduction on the land cost module" has been applied to align with current economic standards.
The Department of Housing and Urban Agenda anticipates finalizing the purchase before August. Once the land deeds are registered, planning and development of the residential project can proceed. "This is a ready-to-build site, free of existing structures and with current urban planning, which facilitates its immediate incorporation into public housing development processes," stated Itxaso.
The upcoming development in Otxarkoaga is one of several initiatives underway to construct affordable rental housing. Zorrotzaurre is set to become one of Bilbao's neighborhoods with the most protected rental units, with over 1,000 homes planned that will include some form of protection.
An example of this is the construction of 66 VPO (official protection homes) that began last March in this developing urban area. Estimates suggest that the first tenants will move into these apartments in the second half of 2028.
