Coimbra council wants former Lancers barracks turned into affordable housing

Coimbra's mayor, Ana Abrunhosa, has said the council wants to take over the former Lancers Squadron site between Rua de Aveiro and Rua de Sofia, behind the Colégio da Graça, and use it for affordable housing. She says the rectangular building there is suitable for that purpose. Talks with Estamo, the state property company that holds the site, began some time ago. The Judicial Police once commissioned a feasibility study for its new regional headquarters on the land but dropped the idea over access problems. The council is helping the force look for alternatives, including the former regional health administration building.