Sintra Mayoral Candidate Ana Mendes Godinho Announces Plan for 10,000 New Homes by 2030
The “People, Always” (PS/Livre) coalition has formally presented Ana Mendes Godinho's candidacy for the presidency of the Sintra Municipal Council, launching a platform with a strong focus on housing, mobility, and economic development. The event, held at the historic Quinta da Ribafria, was attended by prominent political figures, including Socialist Party Secretary-General José Luís Carneiro and former minister João Soares, signaling a high-stakes campaign for control of one of the country's most populous municipalities. The project was framed as a defense of democratic values against what Godinho termed “retrocessos,” setting a direct challenge to the Chega party, which emerged as the most voted party in Sintra during the recent legislative elections.
At the core of the electoral program is the ambitious goal to deliver 10,000 new housing units by the end of the decade. This housing initiative is designed as a multifaceted strategy to address the municipality's pressing accommodation shortage. The plan outlines a combination of rapid modular construction, the mobilization of underutilized municipal land and properties, and the establishment of partnerships with both private developers and housing cooperatives. A significant element of the proposal involves a new support system for private landlords, offering financial aid for property renovations in exchange for commitments to place the units on the affordable rental market. Furthermore, Godinho pledged to finalize the long-overdue legalization of several neighborhoods, providing security and legal certainty to thousands of residents.
In her address, Ana Mendes Godinho emphasized that her candidacy is fundamentally constructive, stating it is positioned “against the politics of fear, hatred, and division” and is focused “for the future of Sintra” rather than against any specific opponent. This forward-looking agenda extends to public security, with concrete proposals to enhance safety across the municipality. The plan includes ensuring a permanent municipal police presence at all major train stations, a measure intended to deter crime and improve public confidence. It also calls for the municipality to assume management of these transport hubs and for the construction of new, modern police facilities in Agualva-Cacém and Queluz, alongside the phased implementation of a public video surveillance network on key avenues.
Mobility has been identified as another central pillar of the campaign. The candidate unveiled a proposal to fundamentally overhaul the Sintra railway line, transforming it into a high-frequency “surface metro” service with trains running every ten minutes during peak hours. This upgrade would be integrated with a new network of rapid bus transit (BRT) lines connecting key residential areas to the Pontinha Metro station, aiming to create a more seamless public transport system. In parallel, Mendes Godinho committed to intensifying political pressure to eliminate the controversial A16 motorway tolls for residents and individuals working within the municipality, and to push for the completion of several pending road infrastructure projects, including the vital western ring road to Cacém.
The program also details a substantial increase in investment for municipal services and public spaces. The annual budget for urban cleaning is slated to double from six to twelve million euros, which will fund the hiring of additional sanitation workers and the modernization of the vehicle fleet and equipment. This is coupled with a new, large-scale public space requalification program to be executed in close collaboration with the local parish councils (juntas de freguesia), targeting the renewal of streets, public squares, gardens, and children's playgrounds throughout the municipality. According to municipal planning expert Rui Alves, “Such an investment in the public realm is not just cosmetic; it directly impacts property values and the quality of life, making neighborhoods more attractive for families and businesses.”
On the social front, the platform proposes the creation of 6,000 new places in public daycare centers (creches) and an expansion of preschool education. For Sintra's aging population, the plan advocates for a comprehensive active aging network, the rollout of proximity services to support independent living, the development of innovative collaborative housing models for seniors, and a personal alarm system connected directly to local emergency services to combat isolation. In the healthcare sector, the candidate promised to allocate 200 municipal-owned homes as an incentive to attract and retain doctors and nurses, to implement a house-call doctor program for the elderly, and to launch a pilot program for a secure and reliable school transport network.
Finally, the economic vision for Sintra was outlined with the proposed creation of a dedicated municipal Investment Agency. This agency would be tasked with proactively attracting new businesses, supporting local entrepreneurs, and fostering strategic sectors through the development of specialized training academies. The ultimate objective, as stated by Godinho, is to position Sintra as a primary engine of economic growth within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area and to achieve a tangible increase in the average income levels of its residents. The comprehensive nature of the proposals sets a clear and ambitious agenda for the upcoming municipal elections. Understand policy impacts on your Portugal property plans at realestate-lisbon.com.
