The PSOE regrets that the PP rejects measures on housing and the Atarazanas market
The socialist municipal group criticizes that the governing team of the Ayuntamiento de Málaga voted against its proposals to mobilize affordable housing through municipal tools and to regulate the uses of the Mercado de Atarazanas.
Redacción · Published on September 18, 2026
The Socialist Municipal Group has criticized the Popular Party's (PP) vote against two proposals presented at the municipal plenary session: one to use economic and fiscal tools of the Ayuntamiento de Málaga to address the housing access problem, and another to preserve the traditional character of the Mercado de Atarazanas.
Socialist councillor Lorena Doña argued that rising housing prices are "no longer just a housing problem, but an economic problem affecting employment, wages, the ability of our young people to become independent, and the ability of families to remain in Málaga." According to her, citing data from the Colegio de Economistas, the price of private housing in the province stands at 2,833 euros per square meter, with year-on-year growth of over 16%, and the housing deficit is estimated at between 35,000 and 45,000 properties.
The Socialist proposal suggested that the Ayuntamiento go beyond direct housing development and use instruments such as the Impuesto de Bienes Inmuebles (IBI), the Impuesto sobre Construcciones, Instalaciones y Obras (ICIO), the municipal budget, public assets, concessions, or public contracting. Among the specific measures were strengthening tax incentives for those who rent out their properties as affordable residential housing, acting on vacant homes without justified cause, and evaluating existing municipal tax benefits. The initiative also included the creation of a Municipal Economic Housing Observatory and an annual report to assess the impact of housing policies.
Mercado de Atarazanas
The PP's rejection was repeated with the Socialist initiative on the Mercado de Atarazanas. Councillor Mari Carmen Sánchez warned that, according to market vendors, sales of fresh and essential products are continuously declining while hospitality activity and products aimed at visitors are increasing.
The proposal suggested separating the spaces intended for hospitality and tourist consumption from those dedicated to traditional sales, in order to avoid crowding that hinders regular shopping. Sánchez also called for greater municipal investment given conservation problems in the building, such as roof leaks, exterior dirt, and the falling of a stained-glass window. The councillor recalled that Atarazanas is a Bien de Interés Cultural.
Sánchez stated that "tourism, hospitality, and traditional commerce can coexist, but to achieve that, uses must be organized, investment must be made, and vendors must be listened to," and criticized the PP for claiming to maintain dialogue with market vendors while at the same time voting against the proposed measures.
Socialist councillor Lorena Doña argued that rising housing prices are "no longer just a housing problem, but an economic problem affecting employment, wages, the ability of our young people to become independent, and the ability of families to remain in Málaga." According to her, citing data from the Colegio de Economistas, the price of private housing in the province stands at 2,833 euros per square meter, with year-on-year growth of over 16%, and the housing deficit is estimated at between 35,000 and 45,000 properties.
The Socialist proposal suggested that the Ayuntamiento go beyond direct housing development and use instruments such as the Impuesto de Bienes Inmuebles (IBI), the Impuesto sobre Construcciones, Instalaciones y Obras (ICIO), the municipal budget, public assets, concessions, or public contracting. Among the specific measures were strengthening tax incentives for those who rent out their properties as affordable residential housing, acting on vacant homes without justified cause, and evaluating existing municipal tax benefits. The initiative also included the creation of a Municipal Economic Housing Observatory and an annual report to assess the impact of housing policies.
Mercado de Atarazanas
The PP's rejection was repeated with the Socialist initiative on the Mercado de Atarazanas. Councillor Mari Carmen Sánchez warned that, according to market vendors, sales of fresh and essential products are continuously declining while hospitality activity and products aimed at visitors are increasing.
The proposal suggested separating the spaces intended for hospitality and tourist consumption from those dedicated to traditional sales, in order to avoid crowding that hinders regular shopping. Sánchez also called for greater municipal investment given conservation problems in the building, such as roof leaks, exterior dirt, and the falling of a stained-glass window. The councillor recalled that Atarazanas is a Bien de Interés Cultural.
Sánchez stated that "tourism, hospitality, and traditional commerce can coexist, but to achieve that, uses must be organized, investment must be made, and vendors must be listened to," and criticized the PP for claiming to maintain dialogue with market vendors while at the same time voting against the proposed measures.