On October 2, 2026, Inma Sanz, the Vice Mayor of Madrid, closed the 'SuresteLAB' event held at the College of Quantity Surveyors in Madrid. This gathering focused on the opportunities and challenges facing the southeast of the city.
During her speech, Sanz emphasized that Madrid and Spain are facing a "historic task" to drive transformation and development in this area of the capital. She pointed out that housing is one of the major challenges for Madrid and other major European cities, advocating for a model that increases supply through the construction of housing, infrastructure, and new urban spaces, as opposed to policies that restrict it.
Sanz called for collaboration between public administrations and the private sector, stating that the real estate and construction sectors should be seen as allies in ensuring access to housing. She noted that the Madrid City Council, under Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida, has unblocked urban developments that had been stalled for years, which will allow for the construction of over 200,000 homes for approximately 500,000 people, with around 120,000 of those located in the southeast. This area will see the emergence of new neighborhoods connected by a large green boulevard and a modern public transport network, along with spaces for businesses, industry, and commerce.
Additionally, she highlighted the Valdecarros redevelopment project, which will enable the development of 51,000 homes, more than half of which will be protected. The municipal housing policy includes 10,000 affordable rental homes managed by the EMVS (Municipal Housing and Land Company) and another 5,700 either in promotion or execution.
In conclusion, Sanz underscored the strategic role of the southeast in the city's future and the City Council's commitment to transforming the southern and eastern districts. "Since 2020, we have allocated nearly 1.3 billion euros to investments in the southern and eastern districts, which are already translating into libraries, parks, kindergartens, and other facilities and infrastructures. We are building the future of Madrid together," Sanz affirmed.
