The Basque Government and the Elciego City Council are promoting the construction of 14 new protected official housing units for rent to meet demand. This development will respond to 64% of the rental demand in the municipality and 78% of young people under 36, out of the 22 family units registered with Etxebide.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Agenda, Denis Itxaso, and the mayor, Juan Carlos Uribe, have visited the construction site, which is using an industrialized wooden structure to reduce the execution time by six months. The work, which began in September 2025, has a budget exceeding 2.5 million euros and is expected to conclude in April 2027.
Minister Itxaso emphasized that "the promotion is an example of how construction industrialization can help accelerate the provision of protected housing without sacrificing architectural quality, energy efficiency, or sustainability." The use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels has reduced the execution period to 18 months, compared to the initially planned 24 months.
For his part, Mayor Juan Carlos Uribe thanked the Basque Government for "its commitment to public housing in rural areas," as it helps to retain population and offers a future for young people. The building will have three floors above ground and one below, housing 14 homes: three with one bedroom and eleven with two, one of which is adapted for people with reduced mobility.
The architectural project provides all homes with a double north-south orientation to facilitate cross-ventilation and improve year-round interior comfort. Additionally, the building will achieve the highest energy rating (A), incorporating aerothermal and photovoltaic energy systems to reduce energy consumption and emissions.
The investment allocated to this promotion amounts to 2,559,490.25 euros, excluding VAT, aiming to expand the public park of protected rental housing in Rioja Alavesa.
