The redevelopment of Palma’s former prison has taken another step forward. The Ajuntament has approved the preliminary project to transform the building into a professional residence with 139 temporary endowment housing units for people who carry out their professional activity in the city.
The Junta de Govern has also given the green light to the procurement process for the drafting of the basic project and the execution project for the works, as well as for the site management and health and safety coordination.
Exterior view of the former prison. Photo: Ajuntament de Palma.
According to the spokesperson for the governing team, Mercedes Celeste, “with this agreement we are taking another step towards making a strategic initiative a reality, one that will allow us to continue expanding Palma’s housing stock and offer housing solutions adapted to current needs“.
The approval of the preliminary project comes after the Ajuntament regained full possession of the property following the completion of the repossession process launched in recent months. Last week, the people occupying the building were evicted, in an operation backed by a court ruling that allowed the council to move forward with the transformation of the former prison.
What the future professional residence will look like
The preliminary project presented today, Monday, by the mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez, sets out the details of the future residential complex, which will have three floors and 8,081 square metres of built space and is designed to provide temporary accommodation for people who carry out their professional activity in the city. The building, which has been unused for more than 25 years, will retain the panopticon structure of the former prison, although the annex buildings, perimeter wall and watchtowers will be demolished.
The residence will have 139 endowment housing units adapted to different temporary accommodation needs. Specifically, it will include 50 units for short stays, 85 apartments for long stays and four family homes, with sizes ranging from 16 to more than 40 square metres.
The complex will also include a wide range of shared services, including a gym, swimming pool, café-restaurant, dining room, laundry facilities, work rooms, gardens, solarium, bicycle parking and communal areas, as well as administrative and maintenance facilities.
The project also includes more than 5,000 square metres of green areas and the incorporation of sustainability and accessibility criteria, with the aim of reducing its environmental impact and ensuring mobility for all users.
From student residence to endowment housing
The future of Palma’s former prison has undergone several changes in recent years. In September 2023, the governing team ruled out the student residence project linked to the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) and announced its intention to allocate the site to public housing.
At the time, the councillor for Urban Planning, Housing and Strategic Projects, Óscar Fidalgo, said there was no signed agreement or guaranteed funding to develop the university residence initially planned. The Ajuntament argued then that building homes was a better response to the city’s current needs. More information at this link.
Almost three years later, the project is taking shape as a residence that will house 139 endowment housing units for specific professional groups working temporarily in Palma.
A building marked by safety problems
The condition of the building had caused growing concern in recent years. Last March, Emaya removed more than 71 tonnes of waste accumulated inside the site during an intensive clean-up operation aimed at reducing the risks of fire and insanitary conditions.
According to municipal figures, since the start of the legislature emergency services have carried out more than 300 interventions related to the former prison, including actions by the Policia Local and Bombers de Palma. More information at this link.
Leave A Comment