Vacant buildings could solve Santa Cruz housing shortage, expert says
Urban planning engineer Pedro Ribeiro da Silva presented Santa Cruz's Municipal Housing Charter, noting that around a quarter of buildings in the municipality lack regular residents, split between second homes and vacant properties. He identified 2,300 vacant buildings, representing 13% of the municipality's total housing stock, and argued that rehabilitating these could resolve the local housing shortage. While acknowledging the need for some new construction, he stressed that land is finite and that reusing existing empty buildings should be prioritised over continuous new building.
Camacha parish head calls for incentives to restore abandoned homes
At a Fórum JM event, Camacha parish council president Ricardo Batista said young people are increasingly settling in the parish and called for future incentives to help restore abandoned houses there. He asked whether Santa Cruz municipality's newly presented Carta Municipal de Habitação already allows for flexibility to regularise such altered dwellings. The housing strategy was unveiled at the council's Salão Nobre in an event organised with JM.
Ten degraded Coimbra buildings now under reconstruction
Coimbra's mayor Ana Abrunhosa told the Municipal Assembly that, of the hundreds of notices sent by the council to owners of degraded buildings, ten properties have already started reconstruction work. The notices mainly target buildings in the city's Baixa (downtown) area. Abrunhosa cited the figure as evidence that the enforcement campaign is producing concrete results, though most notified owners have yet to act.
New 47-flat IRIS Açoteia development launches in Olhão
A new residential development called IRIS Açoteia has launched in Olhão, comprising 47 one-, two- and three-bedroom flats. Marketed by CENTURY 21 Realty Art III and built by Romtrust, it follows the earlier IRIS 1, 2 and 3 projects. The flats feature energy-efficiency measures, branded fittings and appliances, and buyers can customise finishes during construction. Some units include private rooftops, pergolas and space for a jacuzzi, while garages are pre-equipped for electric vehicle charging. Buyers can pay a 10% deposit followed by 90% at the deed, with early-stage discounts of 5% to 10% also on offer.
Coimbra council gives positive first-day review of mobility changes
Coimbra's city council said the first day of new mobility measures in the city centre went well, following the expansion of the metrobus to Coimbra-B and Praça da República and the closure of Rua da Sofia to general traffic. Councillor Ricardo Lino reported positive feedback but acknowledged morning problems, particularly around Praça da República and Rua de Aveiro and Saragoça, which he said needed adjustments to traffic lights. Automatic number-plate reading to control access to restricted streets should be operating within a week. The changes have also altered more than 20 urban bus lines, affecting an estimated 14% of daily passengers.
Nazaré funicular linking hilltop to beach expected in January 2027
The Nazaré town council expects its new funicular, the Funicular da Pederneira, to enter service in January 2027, connecting the upper town to the beach. The €10 million project, fully funded by Portugal's Recovery and Resilience Plan, will carry up to 300 passengers per hour in each direction and allow bicycles and reduced-mobility access. Mayor Serafim Silva said construction work is nearly finished, but testing and certification must still be completed before passengers can be carried, with no exact opening date yet confirmed.
Alentejo municipalities discuss mobility funding with minister
The Intermunicipal Community of Alto Alentejo (CIMAA) met last week with Secretary of State for Mobility Cristina Pinto Dias to discuss stronger support for mobility in low-density territories. Representatives from all of Portugal's intermunicipal communities attended, giving the minister an overview of each region's specific needs. The information gathered is expected to feed into measures for the Social Climate Plan. Officials from the Climate Agency and the Ministry of Environment also took part, reflecting cross-government coordination aimed at finding responses for populations in low-density areas.
Madeira official meets Bolt Portugal director over ride-hailing rules
Pedro Rodrigues, Madeira's regional secretary for Infrastructure, met Bolt Portugal's general director Mário Morais on 9 September, with IMT-RAM president João Pedro Sousa also present. The talks focused on ride-hailing operations (TVDE) in the region, covering regulatory framework, mobility and the inclusion of taxis in the sector. Officials discussed how to ensure Bolt's service in Madeira complies with current rules, taking into account the region's specific characteristics and the respective powers of regional and national authorities.
