Benalmádena housing plot: sale finalized for 230 VPO homes Benalmádena housing plot sale at Rocas Blancas has been completed, paving the way for up to 230 new officially protected homes in the municipality. The Town Council of Benalmádena has formally completed the land sale contract for a prime municipal plot in the Rocas Blancas sector, clearing the final administrative hurdle required to commence construction on up to 230 officially protected homes, known locally as VPO units. The deed of sale was signed on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, between municipal representatives and the real estate development company Ferrocarril Proyecto 19, S.L. The transaction transfers ownership of a substantial parcel measuring 29,379 square metres located in the Montealto area of Benalmádena Pueblo. The sale concludes a key administrative phase for the municipal housing strategy, shifting the responsibility to the developer to secure building permits and launch site preparation works. From municipal acquisition to expanded housing capacity The Rocas Blancas land parcel has a notable recent history within local urban planning. Benalmádena Town Council originally acquired the plot in December 2024 for 4,468,000 euros using municipal treasury reserves. The purchase was part of an explicit local policy to build up a public land bank dedicated exclusively to affordable residential development. Initial planning designs for the Rocas Blancas plot envisaged a development of 192 subsidized apartments. However, the municipal government subsequently applied a new housing decree enacted by the Junta de Andalucía, the regional government of Andalusia. This regional regulatory framework permits municipalities to increase residential density on designated social housing land. By applying these regional rules, Benalmádena successfully expanded the maximum potential capacity of the plot from 192 to 230 homes without altering the urban footprint. Next steps for construction and licensing With the formalization of the sale now complete, the development process enters its technical phase. The purchasing company, Ferrocarril Proyecto 19, S.L., will finalize detailed architectural blueprints, structural engineering specifications, and utility connection plans. Once these technical dossiers are submitted to the municipal urban planning department, local technical officers will review the filings to issue the corresponding building license. Local authorities expect that completing the land conveyance will significantly shorten the timeline toward groundbreaking, bringing much-needed housing stock into the pipeline for local workers and young families seeking affordable primary residences. Over five hundred protected homes in the local pipeline The Rocas Blancas project is one piece of a broader municipal strategy to address the growing housing shortage on the western Costa del Sol. Alongside the 230 units planned at Rocas Blancas, Benalmádena is advancing another major social housing development in the Arenal Golf and Doña María Norte area. During its regular plenary session in late September 2026, the Benalmádena Town Council formally approved the detailed urban planning study, known as an estudio de detalle, for the Arenal Golf sector. That approval clears the way for the development of an additional 349 officially protected homes. Combined, the Rocas Blancas and Arenal Golf projects will deliver more than 500 subsidized housing units to the local market over the coming construction cycle. Furthermore, private developers are responding to municipal incentives. Real estate group Urbania is moving forward with plans for a separate development of over 300 VPO homes in Benalmádena, featuring modern community amenities such as shared swimming pools and landscaped gardens, reflecting an updated approach to social housing design in the region. Addressing housing pressure on the Costa del Sol The push for protected housing comes at a critical moment for Benalmádena and surrounding coastal municipalities, where rapidly rising property prices and rental costs have created severe affordability challenges for local residents. Recent municipal housing studies indicate that approximately 17 percent of Benalmádena's total housing stock is currently registered for short-term holiday rentals, restricting the availability of long-term rental properties for residents working in local services, healthcare, education, and hospitality. By acquiring strategic land parcels and transferring them to private developers under strict VPO guidelines, Benalmádena Town Council aims to stabilize the local housing market and provide accessible homeownership options for residents who would otherwise be priced out of the coastal real estate market.