Government: Urban planning news in Portugal

New rules to simplify urban planning in municipalities have come into force

Government moves forward with pilot project in municipalities to use AI in licensing

Porto City Council reverses decision to exchange affordable housing for compensation

Pedro Duarte stated that the possibility of the municipality paying compensation for backtracking on this issue is “off the table,” as the developers had not yet been notified of the previous decision.

Lisbon will have a 25th of November Avenue that will converge with Álvaro Cunhal Avenue

The municipality justifies the renaming of the Alta de Lisboa Central Axis as a tribute to the date that allowed for the establishment of freedom and democracy. Jorge Sampaio will also have an avenue in the area.

Interview with Marco Almeida - Challenges, Health and Urban Hygiene

An interview featuring Marco Almeida discussing current challenges, public health, and urban sanitation issues.

Electrical technicians posing as designers: the new lighting from Lisbon City Council

Where have we seen this before? In the 70s, when public and monumental lighting was decided by catalogue. Lisbon deserves a well-lit chamber, not just lit. Opinion by José Albuquerque Fonseca

Message on World Cities Day - United Nations - UN Portugal

Official message regarding the global observance of World Cities Day, as published by the United Nations Portugal office.

Unric31 Oct

There are no silver bullets – the permanent anxiety for an instant housing formula

The housing disease has become a serious urban pathology. It cannot be cured with massages and whispered words. It requires a cocktail of medicines and, if necessary, harsher intervention. Opinion piece by Pedro Campos Costa

Porto City Council to discuss revision of seven inclusive zoning projects on Tuesday

Socialist councillor Manuel Pizarro classified the resolution approved last week as “politically wrong, incoherent, and morally reprehensible.”

IL: Traffic in Coimbra worsens after reform

IL councillor accuses the municipality's data of being 'out of touch with reality' and requests measures for the queues at the entrances and exits of Coimbra and at the HUC hospital.

Pinto Luz denies conflict of interest in the approval of the new Legal Regime for Urbanization and Building

The Minister of Infrastructure and Housing did not hide his indignation at the lightness with which very serious accusations are made and a person's good name is called into question.

“False accusation”. Pinto Luz denies conflict of interest in new urban rehabilitation regime

The Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, rejected this Monday accusations of a conflict of interest related to the approval of changes to urban planning legislation, considering them to be “false”, “deeply offensive” and an attack on his integrity. In a hearing at the Assembly of the Republic, the minister guaranteed that he did not use the Government nor...

Architects request urgent meeting on housing

The OA sent a letter to the Ministry of Infrastructure requesting the convening of the Government's advisory body “as soon as possible,” proposing a National Housing System.

Don't worry, the Government will solve it!

Partnership with Decathlon guarantees access to next-generation tents.

How many properties does it take to make a selfish person?

The Constitution does not demonize private construction. It asks that it be “subordinated to the general interest.” And the general interest is not building wherever it is most profitable or where the deal is most advantageous. Opinion piece by Daniela Bulário

The future of Odemira is decided today

The Odemira Municipal Master Plan, currently in public consultation, proposes measures that could have very serious consequences for the development of economic activity.

Housing: ensuring Lisbon remains a city to live in

Reflecting on his first year as Lisbon's Housing Councillor, the author discusses the complex challenges of the city's housing crisis. He argues that housing is a fundamental structural policy for urban life, necessary for retaining essential workers, youth, and diverse social groups. The article highlights municipal efforts to increase housing stock, support private market tenants, and rehabilitate city-owned properties under the administration of Mayor Carlos Moedas, while emphasizing the need for a shared responsibility between public, private, and cooperative sectors to ensure Lisbon remains an accessible and inclusive city.

PSD and Chega protect Miguel Pinto Luz in conflict of interest case

Parties blocked a hearing for the minister regarding conflicts of interest in the approval of a law that shortened deadlines to challenge municipal decisions. Pinto Luz had stated he would be “very pleased” to provide clarifications.

Idle houses, everything within the law

In 2023, Lisbon had 1,158 completely vacant properties and 1,696 partially vacant properties held by private owners. A substantial part of the built city remains idle.

There is no turning back – the importance of the new land law

The new land law, reclassifying rural land as urban land, could become a structural reform of strategic interest in Portugal.

Public space cannot be held hostage by permanent protest

No sensible person denies the severity of the housing crisis in Porto and the rest of the country. Access to affordable housing is a legitimate and pressing concern, but the unregulated occupation of public space exceeds the limits of civic protest. The proliferation of tents negatively impacts mobility, urban hygiene, and local commerce. While the right to protest is fundamental, it cannot override the rights of all citizens to enjoy an organised, clean, and safe city. Solutions must come from effective public policy, not from bypassing municipal rules.

Programme that helped over 350,000 people is debated

Although it had a significant impact, the first secretary of the AML, Costa, considers that “the problems have not ended because society is dynamic,” and new solutions are needed.

Opposition councillors in Cascais point to conflicts of interest in Pinto Luz's legislative amendment

At issue is an alleged conflict of interest involving Minister Miguel Pinto Luz for shortening urban planning challenge deadlines in a new law, which may benefit decisions he made while serving as the municipality's vice-president.

Opposition councillors in Cascais point to conflicts of interest in Pinto Luz's legislative amendment

Opposition councillors in the Cascais municipal executive are not surprised by suspicions of conflicts of interest involving Minister Miguel Pinto Luz regarding changes to urban planning legislation, though the minister has denied the bill was tailored to his interests. According to Socialist councillor João Ruivo, the amendment to the legal regimes of Urbanisation and Building (RJUE)...

Guerra Junqueiro residents welcome project suspension

The petition was created in direct response to the competition, the programme of which aimed little more than to hinder illegal parking on pedestrian crossings, explains Tiago Castela, the group's spokesperson.

New urban planning law shortens deadline to challenge Pinto Luz's decisions in Cascais

The new Legal Regime for Urban Rehabilitation, approved by the government in May, has reduced the time limit for the Public Prosecutor's Office or citizens' movements to legally challenge municipal decisions regarding urban planning from ten to three years. According to Sábado magazine, the change benefits Miguel Pinto Luz, the current Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, who was vice-president...

Porto suspends Guerra Junqueiro project and promises to rethink the street with citizens

The project inherited from the previous executive will not proceed, and Pedro Duarte promises to listen to citizens to reconcile 'very contradictory interests'. The speed limit for cars has already been reduced.