Almada Municipality Demands Government Intervention in Illegal Settlement with 800 Structures
The Câmara Municipal de Almada has formally requested immediate action from the national government to halt the expansion of illegal construction in the areas of Penajoia and Raposo. On Thursday, October 16, an open letter was sent to Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, detailing the scale of the issue. The document, which was also signed by the parish councils of Almada, Cova da Piedade, Pragal e Cacilhas, and Caparica e Trafaria, along with over 200 local residents, identifies the settlements as among the largest of illegal origin to appear in the country in the 21st century.
The letter states that the settlements are located on land owned by the State and consist of approximately 800 constructions that fail to meet minimum habitability standards. These structures lack fundamental infrastructure, such as connections to the public water supply, sanitation systems, and the electricity grid. The signatories warn that this situation poses a significant and growing risk to public health and the safety of the resident population. The complexities of urban planning and housing are a key focus of our regulatory and legal frameworks blog.
The document further outlines the negative consequences for the wider municipality, citing interruptions in public services, damage to property, the accumulation of unmanaged waste, and a deteriorating sense of security among both residents of the settlements and neighboring communities. The accelerated growth of these illegal neighborhoods is attributed to a lack of concrete action from the Government and the Instituto da Habitação e da Reabilitação Urbana (IHRU), the public institute with responsibility for the management of the state-owned lands in question. Such issues highlight the importance of understanding location-specific issues when considering property investments.
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In its appeal, the Almada municipality, supported by local parishes and residents, emphasizes its commitment to defending the rights of the population and ensuring urban legality. The letter calls for an 'urgent, responsible, and consequential' response from the central government. The stated goals are to restore dignified housing conditions for the affected families and to protect the public interest within the territory. This situation is a developing story in our neighborhood news section.
The formal position taken by the Almada council signals an escalation in the effort to address the long-standing problem of informal and illegal housing, a challenge faced by several municipalities in Portugal's high-growth urban areas. The outcome of this demand for intervention will be closely watched by local authorities and property stakeholders across the country.
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