Palma launches construction drive: Thousands of new apartments planned

City plans new neighborhoods — criticism mixes with hope

A noticeable change is coming in Palma: in recent months the city administration has received several applications for large new development areas. The basis is a law passed this year for so-called strategic housing projects, which allows higher development densities. What sounds dry on paper quickly becomes a topic in the neighborhoods at the kiosk or in the café.

What exactly is it about?

According to the plans, a total of around 3,600 new apartments could be built in various parts of the city. The largest sites are planned in Son Güells and Son Puigdorfila — there alone well over a thousand additional units are to be built compared with the valid development plan of 2023.

Son Güells, an area in the east of the city, is intended as the largest location: almost 3,100 housing units are envisaged here, about 800 units more than previously permitted. About half of these apartments are to be price-controlled according to the project documents, explicitly described as price-limited apartments — genuine social housing under public ownership apparently is not planned.

What do residents and experts say?

In the streets around Avinguda Jaume III and Passeig del Born people say that the infrastructure is already reaching its limits in some places. 'More people means more cars, more buses, more need for day-care centers,' says a resident of Son Armadans in a conversation at 9 a.m. — while taking her coffee cup from the kiosk across the street.

The situation in Son Puigdorfila is particularly delicate: nearly 542 apartments are planned there, about 280 of which are to be price-controlled. The site borders a small wooded area that was protected in the old plan — this protection would be weakened by the new regulations.

Other areas and open questions

In addition, projects in Son Ximelis, Can Fontet and Son Cladera Sur are in early planning stages. Concrete figures are still missing, but experts expect that investors will take advantage of the leeway for higher densities opened up by the new legislation.

The debate is not only about numbers: it is about the balance between urgently needed housing, the protection of remaining green spaces and traffic loads. An urban planner I met at the town hall last week called the project 'an opportunity, but only if the infrastructure grows with it.'

What happens next?

Now follow reviews by the authorities, environmental assessments and participation procedures. Those who live in Palma should keep an eye on notices and city council meetings — decisions that could shape the city's face will be made in the coming months. And yes: it will get noisy, in the neighborhoods, at meeting places, on social media. Whether the new apartments will ultimately reach the people who need them remains open.