Sóller converts an old hospital into ten social housing units

From clinic to home: Sóller plans ten social housing units

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On the edge of Plaça Constitució, where the sun in the afternoon often heats the cobblestones, the former hospital has stood quiet for years. Now the building gets a new task: the Balearic housing institute Ibavi is taking over the house and will establish ten rental apartments there. One might say: a piece of everyday life returning to an empty building.

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Municipality keeps the ground floor for offices

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The ground floor of around 440 square meters remains in municipal hands. The administration wants to house offices and service points there — a practical detail, as they say in the town hall corridor, because it makes things easier for citizens. The upper floors will be converted gradually, barrier-free and with small layouts for singles, couples and young families.

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I was there last week on a windy morning. In front of the gate sat two older women talking about market prices — a quiet, ordinary life. The housing discussion in Sóller is not new. Yet this project feels different: small, local, concrete.

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Timeline and goals

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The municipality expects a construction start in spring 2026; moves-in are possible, depending on approvals, toward the end of 2026 or early 2027. Ten apartments may seem small, but in a small town like Sóller it can help cushion acute shortages. It is not about grand projects, but tangible local solutions, says the rough message from the town hall.

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The apartments will be rented, not sold. This keeps long-term control over use. Additionally, it is planned to apply social criteria in the allocation — people with local ties, workers in health and service sectors, and households with low incomes should have priority.

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More than a building

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The project fits into a series of measures the municipality has already prepared: renovations of smaller houses, conversion of vacant apartments and collaborations with regional housing programs. Not everyone is satisfied — residents would like precise timelines and transparent allocation criteria. Understandable.

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But for Sóller the project means: old stock gains new life. Not a grand promise, but a pragmatic step. If the work goes as planned, by next winter ten families or individuals could be less affected by housing shortages. And in a city where squares and small shops set the pace, that counts more than you might think.