Málaga consolida la construcción de vivienda, pero sigue muy lejos de la que necesita (sobre todo protegida)

The article, authored by Vicente Roca and published by Andalucía Información, analyses the state of housing construction in the province of Málaga. Andalucía Información is a regional news outlet covering socioeconomic developments in Andalusia, while the author, a journalist specialising in urban and housing issues, draws on data supplied by the Colegio Oficial de Arquitectos de Málaga (Official College of Architects of Málaga).

In 2025, a total of 9 475 housing units were approved (“viviendas visadas”), representing a 6.4 % increase over the previous year and roughly returning to pre‑pandemic levels. The majority of approvals concern free‑market multifamily housing (7 878 units across 240 projects) and free‑market single‑family housing (1 262 units across 727 projects). The most active municipalities are Mijas, Málaga city, and Estepona, reflecting a concentration of investment along the coastal and metropolitan areas.

Approved projects serve as an indicator of construction intent rather than finished dwellings. By the end of 2025, actual completions fell to 6 667 units, slightly below the 2024 total. Of these, 5 607 were free‑market multifamily units and 1 087 were free‑market single‑family units. Protected (social) housing accounted for a negligible share of completions, underscoring a persistent shortfall in affordable supply.

Only six multi‑family protected projects were approved in 2025, providing 335 units, and merely 142 protected homes were completed. This stark deficit highlights the limited production of public or subsidised housing, a critical issue given Málaga’s high demographic, tourist, and economic pressures.

The dean of the Architects’ College, Susana Gómez de Lara, cites a reasonable benchmark of 30 000 to 50 000 approved housing units per year to balance supply and demand. Achieving such volumes would be essential for meeting both market needs and sustainability objectives, including reducing urban sprawl and supporting energy‑efficient building practices.

The report identifies multiple constraints hampering construction: a shortage of skilled labour, limited availability of buildable land, rising construction costs, and protracted administrative procedures. Gómez de Lara calls for faster licensing, increased technical and human resources within public administrations, and stronger collaboration with private developers to accelerate protected housing projects.

While rehabilitation activity remains significant, it is almost exclusively focused on free‑market housing. Partial renovations dominate both single‑family and multifamily sectors, and there is virtually no rehabilitation of protected housing, limiting the potential for sustainable retrofits of existing stock.

The College of Architects urges a “State Pact for Housing” that coordinates funding and strategy across national and regional governments. The pact should integrate new construction, rehabilitation, and the activation of vacant dwellings, aiming to create a more resilient and environmentally sustainable housing system.

Málaga’s experience illustrates common European challenges: rising demand, insufficient affordable supply, and administrative bottlenecks. The data underscore the importance of setting realistic construction targets, streamlining permitting processes, and fostering public‑private partnerships to deliver sustainable, inclusive housing at scale.