A public petition opposing the construction of high-rise buildings in Madeira has surpassed 1,000 signatures, meeting the threshold required for consideration by the Legislative Assembly of Madeira.
The initiative was launched in response to proposals that taller residential buildings could help address the Region’s housing shortage. Its organisers say the petition is intended to encourage a wider debate about Madeira’s future urban development and the potential impact of large-scale construction on the island’s landscape and quality of life.
In the petition, the signatories oppose the construction of buildings with 20, 30 or more storeys, arguing that such developments could undermine Madeira’s distinctive landscape, place additional pressure on existing infrastructure and reduce residents’ quality of life.
“Our landscape, Madeira’s identity and the quality of life of those who live here are at stake,” the organisers state. They argue that the housing crisis should not be addressed through what they describe as the proliferation of “concrete monsters.”
The petition comes at a time of increasing pressure on Madeira’s housing market, with rising property prices and a shortage of available homes prompting the Regional Government and local authorities to consider a range of measures to increase housing supply.
During last week’s Autonomy Conferences, which focused on housing, the President of the Regional Government, Miguel Albuquerque, proposed revising Municipal Master Plans (PDMs) to allow buildings of “around 20 storeys” in urban expansion areas such as Ajuda. He argued that increasing building height would create more homes while preserving additional land for green spaces.
The proposal has received support from Funchal Mayor Jorge Carvalho, who said taller buildings had formed part of the Funchal Sempre Melhor coalition’s election programme.
“We believe that, given Funchal’s geographical constraints and existing urban density, building upwards would provide not only more housing but also allow more land to be preserved for gardens and open spaces,” he said.
The proposal has also been backed by the President of the Madeira Regional Council of Architects, Susana Neves. Speaking to DIÁRIO, she said that, given Madeira’s limited land area and high population density, vertical construction really has to be the solution, adding that the island is not elastic.
The petition’s organisers, however, argue that taller buildings alone will not solve the housing crisis. They maintain that house prices are influenced by factors including land values, market demand, mortgage availability, and developers’ pricing strategies.
They also warn that high-rise developments could place additional pressure on transport networks, parking, water supplies, sanitation systems and emergency services unless infrastructure is expanded alongside new construction.
As an alternative, the petition calls for greater emphasis on urban regeneration, the restoration of vacant buildings, controlled-cost housing, affordable rental schemes and more efficient use of already serviced urban land, rather than significantly increasing building heights.
The signatories are asking political parties represented in the Regional Parliament to recommend that the Regional Government retain a maximum building height of ten storeys for new developments. They are also calling for independent technical studies and a broad public consultation involving architects, planners, universities, municipalities, and civil society before any fundamental changes are made to Madeira’s planning policies.
The petition’s rapid growth reflects the strength of public feeling on the issue. It attracted more than 300 signatures within its first 24 hours and has now exceeded the 1,000-signature threshold required for parliamentary consideration.
The debate is likely to continue in the coming months as Madeira seeks to balance the urgent need for more housing with the protection of the landscape that has become one of the island’s defining characteristics.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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