Maria João Carreiro launches tender for construction project for 32 plots in Feteiras - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego

The Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, Maria João Carreiro, has just awarded another works contract for the construction of new housing in the Azores, this time for the serving of 32 plots in the parish of Feteiras, Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island.

The plots, which are part of the Biscoito Housing Development, will be allocated to 32 families through a public tender to be launched after completion of the work and are intended for the construction of single-family houses.

The project, which is now underway with a completion period of 150 days, was awarded to Caetano & Medeiros, representing an investment of 1.4 million Euros, financed under the RRP.

At the ceremony of laying the first stone for this new project, which took place today, Maria João Carreiro highlighted the "positive progress made in the implementation of the RRP investment in housing." She added that 80% of the overall investment for the Region has already been implemented or is currently being implemented.

"We can safely and confidently say that we are making the largest investment in public housing in the Azores," she said, pointing out that 219 new housing units are being built in Ponta Delgada alone, with a current completion rate of 80%, in parishes such as São Roque, Santa Clara, Arrifes, Covoada, Ginetes, Capelas, São Vicente Ferreira and Fenais da Luz.

According to the government official, "the investment underway will ensure more housing solutions for different situations and age groups."

"Our goal is to increase the public supply of housing at prices compatible with the income of middle-class Azorean families and young people, without neglecting our responsibility to low-income families in serious housing need," she explained.

Maria João Carreiro recalled, however, that the early implementation of the RRP in the housing area in the Azores was challenging and demanding. This was not only due to the consequences of the striking lack of investment by socialist governments in the housing stock over a decade, but also due to the administrative and legal procedures that had to be carried out on land acquired by the Region. 

This is the case of the land where the Biscoito Housing Development will now be built. It was acquired by the Region in 2000, but for over two decades no development permit was ever issued for it. It was not until May 2022 that the PSD/CDS/PPM coalition government carried out the legal procedures to make that land available for the expansion of housing in the parish of Feteiras.

The Regional Secretary also praised the "commitment, resilience and good work" of the Ponta Delgada City Council and its Mayor, Pedro Nascimento Cabral, in the municipal response to housing challenges. She also highlighted the "consistent cooperation" with the Regional Government to promote new housing projects and provide access to housing for those living and working in the municipality.

Among other guests, the ceremony of laying the first stone was attended by the Mayor of Ponta Delgada, Pedro Nascimento Cabral; members of the Regional Legislative Assembly, Luís Raposo, Carlos Silva, Gualberto Rita and Patrícia Miranda; the Regional Director for Housing, Daniel Pavão; and the President of the Parish Council of Feteiras, Zélia Silva.