At its regular plenary session this afternoon, Calpe Town Council will discuss initiating the process to amend the PGOU in order to prohibit the conversion of commercial premises into residential properties within the municipal area, except in La Fossa.
The aim is to respond to two problems: to prevent the increase in the price of commercial premises caused by this situation, which weakens the commercial fabric, and to prevent these establishments from being converted into tourist accommodation, as most of the applications registered in recent years were for this purpose.
The Calpe council is taking this step after suspending the processing and granting of this type of licence in June 2024 in order to study the modification of the urban planning regulations. It is now presenting the draft amendment to the PGOU (General Urban Development Plan) as well as an initial strategic document that determines that the prohibition of this change of use will affect the ground floors of multi-family dwellings (apartments, flats, etc.) throughout the municipal area, with the exception of La Fossa. It will also not affect single-family dwellings (detached houses, semi-detached houses, etc.).
The study analyses the ratio of square metres of commercial premises per dwelling in different areas of the municipality of Calpe with residential use, taking into account the Municipal Sustainability Indicator System of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda, which establishes a desirable ratio of between 12.5 and 17.5 m² of commercial space per dwelling. In the case of La Fossa, this ratio is higher, at 21.04, hence the exception.
In other areas such as the town centre, despite having a much higher index - 28.55 - the ban applies because it is considered that most of the dwellings are primary residences and where it has been observed that most commercial premises that change use end up being converted into tourist accommodation. In fact, it is in this area where the highest density of registered residents in the municipality is found and, therefore, where the presence of tourist accommodation can have the greatest impact.
In addition, this measure aims to promote the concept of a city equipped with primary services, where spaces for coexistence and socialisation among citizens are created. In this regard, the Councillor for Territory, Juan Manuel del Pino, pointed out that: ‘keeping commercial premises open to the street not only boosts the local economy, but also strengthens everyday life in neighbourhoods’.