On November 29th, the Minister of the Presidency announced the approval, in the Council of Ministers, of a Decree-Law aimed at amending the Legal Regime of Territorial Management Instruments, as part of the "Construct Portugal" program.
The announced measure aims to cut bureaucracy, urging the creation of new housing, in order to address the shortage of available housing, by enabling construction on land that typically did not allow such urban operations.
According to the information released, it is intended to flexibilize the rules for land use, including an exceptional regime that allows, by decision of the municipal authorities, the construction and urbanization of rustic land and land that is part of the National Ecological Reserve (REN) or the National Agricultural Reserve (RAN), as long as it does not fall within the "most critical" areas.
The concept of "moderate-value housing" is being created, which aims to allow middle-class access to housing, establishing average values for the local and national markets, in order to ensure social justice.
In terms of conditions, it was already advanced that the application of this regime is dependent on the construction, on 70% of the land, of public housing or at moderate values.
The approved bill will now be submitted for analysis by the National Association of Municipalities and other entities, so that they can express their opinion on its content.
