Yesterday afternoon, the Zumaia City Council debated and voted on the General Urban Planning Plan (PGOU) during its ordinary April session. This document, which outlines the municipality's urban development for the coming years, was the main topic of the session, with councilors dedicating most of the two-hour meeting to it.
The municipal government, formed by EH Bildu, secured provisional approval thanks to its majority. The process began in 2020, and previously Zumaia only had subsidiary regulations from 2004. Throughout the process, citizens were given the opportunity to participate, with 233 people involved in discussing the municipality's needs. Based on these contributions, a report outlining criteria and objectives was prepared and unanimously approved in the plenary session of January 2022.
The company ERDU was responsible for drafting the plan after winning the tender. After receiving input from the sector, the document was brought to the December 2024 plenary session for initial approval. On that occasion, the PNV voted against it, and the PSE-EE abstained. Following initial approval, a period for submitting allegations was opened, and 47 appeals were received, which have since been technically and legally analyzed.
“"You have said that you do not agree with this model. That model was based on criteria and objectives, and you agreed with them."
The proposal is structured around three main axes: housing, economic activity and facilities, and public space. These are organized along transversal lines such as sustainability, environmental conservation, inclusivity, equality, heritage protection, and the Basque language. Regarding housing, the plan envisages the construction of 863 new homes, 60% of which will be protected. Additionally, 185 homes are intended for social rental, 150 in Puntanoeta and 35 in Aita Mari, the latter thanks to an agreement planned with the Basque Government.
The opposition parties, PNV and PSE-EE, voted against the plan. The PNV argued that the proposed model does not offer medium and long-term solutions, criticizing the plan's duration (eight years) as too short and proposing an extension to 12 or 15 years. In light of the housing crisis, they contended that a longer-term plan would allow for the construction of 1,300 new homes, instead of the 863 foreseen. The PSE-EE also voted against, deeming the proposal "conservative and continuous," and particularly criticized the rejection of their allegation to convert the Guascor area into residential land.
