Regional Government moves forward with construction of four houses in Casteletes neighbourhood on São Jorge Island - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego

The Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, Maria João Carreiro, chaired today the signing of the consignment agreement and the laying of the first stone for the construction of four houses in the Casteletes neighbourhood in the parish of Urzelina, municipality of Velas, São Jorge Island.

The works contract was awarded to the company Inves Tri, Unipessoal, Lda. for €789,811.18 (plus VAT) and will be completed in 360 days.

"This investment, fully funded under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, will allow the construction of four three-bedroom houses for renting under the lease with purchase option scheme for young people and the middle class," recalled the Regional Secretary during the consignment ceremony held at the Urzelinense Society.

In addition to this investment, Maria João Carreiro announced that the remaining nine serviced plots will be allocated through a public tender to be launched in early 2025. This will allow beneficiaries to purchase a serviced plot at affordable prices and apply for support from the Regional Directorate for housing construction. 

On this subject, the Regional Secretary recalled that ‘’improvements were made in the 2024 Plan and Budget to the support system for the construction of permanent own housing, covering more families and securing an increase in the support granted of about 25%."

According to the government official, these investments will boost the supply of affordable housing in the municipality of Velas. This, combined with the Velas Municipal Council's investments under the 1st Right, will provide more and better solutions for São Jorge residents. 

The ceremony also saw the signing of eight collaboration agreements with the parish councils of Calheta, Norte Pequeno, Santo Amaro, Rosais, Topo, Santo Antão, Urzelina and Ribeira Seca, totalling approximately 77 thousand Euros. These agreements aim to ensure the material conditions for the refurbishment of properties whose beneficiaries are economically disadvantaged or unable to manage the support granted independently.

The ceremony was attended, among other guests, by the Mayor of Velas, Luís Silveira, the Deputy Mayor of Calheta, Lúcia Alves, the Regional Director for Housing, Daniel Pavão, the President of the Urzelina Parish Council, André Silveira, and the representative of the company Inves Tri, Unipessoal Lda., José Azevedo.