Madeira Advances Housing Solutions with €8.2 Million Development in Câmara de Lobos
The Municipal Council of Câmara de Lobos has officially awarded a contract for a significant housing development valued at over 8.2 million euros. The project will deliver 32 new residential units intended to provide permanent homes for families displaced from the Fajã das Galinhas area following the major fire event in August 2024. This decision was formalized during a recent meeting of the municipal executive, led by President Sónia Pereira, signaling a firm commitment to addressing the region's housing needs.
The new construction will be located in the Sítio do Castelejo, a strategic site within the Estreito de Câmara de Lobos parish. The project specifications detail a mix of housing types to accommodate different family structures, including 18 two-bedroom (T2) apartments, ten three-bedroom (T3) units, and four larger four-bedroom (T4) homes. The development's financial structure is robust, with the total project cost being supported by the Institute for Regional Development (IDR), ensuring the necessary capital is in place for its successful execution.
This initiative is a key component of the municipality's broader housing strategy. It runs in parallel with another active construction project in the Sítio da Igreja area, which involves building 23 new homes with an investment exceeding 6.7 million euros. This second project is notably financed through Portugal's national Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), demonstrating a multi-faceted approach to leveraging different funding streams for public infrastructure. Both developments are guided by the Local Housing Strategy (ELH) for Câmara de Lobos, a framework established in 2021 to address housing precarity. The ELH had identified 374 households in situations of urgent housing vulnerability, a figure that includes the 33 families evacuated from Fajã das Galinhas.
The evacuation in 2024 was a preventative measure, as the intense wildfires, which burned for nearly two weeks across several municipalities, compromised the safety of the sole access road to the Fajã das Galinhas settlement. While the homes themselves were spared from the flames, the risk posed by the fire's proximity and the subsequent geological instability of the surrounding cliffs necessitated the relocation of 107 permanent residents. These families have since been in temporary rehousing solutions, awaiting a permanent resolution.
According to official assessments by the Municipal Civil Protection Service, the Regional Government, and the Regional Laboratory of Civil Engineering, the escarpment above the access road remains unsafe for public transit, keeping the area closed. This ongoing safety concern underscores the urgency of the new housing projects. The planned delivery for the PRR-funded homes is set for the end of 2026, providing a clear timeline for a portion of the affected families.
In a formal statement, President Sónia Pereira affirmed the project's critical importance. "This adjudication addresses a real and urgent necessity within our community," she stated. "It is also a clear sign that we are creating concrete responses to improve the living conditions of those who most need our support." The project not only provides a direct solution for displaced residents but also contributes to the overall housing stock in a region that, like many in Portugal, faces supply pressures. The focus on building permanent, high-quality housing reflects a long-term vision for community stability and development in Câmara de Lobos. Monitor new development opportunities at realestate-lisbon.com.
