The Department of Housing and Urban Agenda of the Basque Government and the Zarautz City Council have signed a collaboration agreement to build 230 homes and dotational apartments in the Irita area. The Government has stated that this will be one of the largest public rental housing developments currently planned in Gipuzkoa.
This project will include 130 protected homes and one hundred dotational apartments. A budget of 34.6 million euros will be allocated for construction and urbanization, with an estimated completion date of 2030. The Zarautz City Council will cede 4,356 square meters of land free of charge to the Government for housing construction and an additional 1,644 square meters for community facilities.
Half of the 130 protected rental homes will be allocated to citizens under 36 years of age. Furthermore, 30% of the homes will be reserved for cohabitation units with annual incomes between 20,000 and 46,000 euros, aiming to assist families facing difficulties in obtaining housing on the open market. "We want these homes to be a real opportunity for the people of Zarautz, especially for young people who need to become independent and develop their life projects in their municipality, but also for the middle working class who, despite having income, face unaffordable housing prices," stated Denis Itxaso, Minister of Housing and Urban Agenda.
The dotational apartments will be used under a five-year rotational system to meet temporary housing needs and provide solutions for individuals requiring accommodation at specific life stages. Itxaso emphasized that "dotational apartments offer the possibility of creating a flexible and rotational resource".
Urbanization works will include the construction of the road network, public spaces, and a two-way bridge to connect Indamendi and Maria Etxetxiki streets. These works will have a budget of 2.5 million euros.
Minister Denis Itxaso highlighted the collaboration between the two institutions, stating that the agreement will enable the swift execution of the housing projects. He also noted that the free provision of land by municipalities allows for "accelerating the public response".
In the last ten years, the Basque Government and the Zarautz City Council have built 198 public housing units in Zarautz, including developments in Aldapeta, Salberdin, Azken Portu-Lanpardón, and Iñurritza.
The modification of the urban plan was approved in the municipal plenary session of January 2023 and received final approval in July 2024. Last July, the agreement to cede the land was also approved with the unanimous vote of all parties represented in the council.
