This is a best way to deliver transformation framework in a smart sustainable city

Porto City Hall estimates that the Monte Pedral project, where it plans to build circa 330 dwellings, mostly at affordable prices, amounts to an investment that surpasses 63 million euros, in accordance with the plot-division that has been unanimously approved by the Municipal Executive, early this week.

“This plot is the great opportunity for creating a new city centre in Porto”, highlighted councillor for Urbanism, Pedro Baganha, during the Executive Meeting, held on 11th January, when all represented political forces unanimously agreed on the importance of such project to increase the offer of affordable dwellings in the city.

The planned investment amounts to 63, 2 million euros and it will be, for the most part, ensured by private entities, in accordance with the model that the City Hall has established for those premises, based in the Municipal Policy to Promote Affordable Housing; i.e., the City Hall has granted the supplier the plot of land’s surface right for a period of 50 years and the latter is required to build a service. Suppliers are to be chosen under public tender, which is to be launched.

Former military Barrack of Monte Pedral, located at Serpa Pinto, Egas Moniz and Constituição Streets, in Porto is, once again, the property of Porto City Hall, as it was under government administration; since 1997, the City Hall was trying to reclaim this property, which had been transferred to the State in 1904. The agreement was closed on 10 January 2019.

The enveloping area is quite consolidated, as Pedro Baganha highlighted, but the inside of the plot, which is an area that surpasses 25 thousand square metres, “is all about retrieving that land to the city”.

Thus, the Monte Pedral Barrack, with 25 thousand square meters, twice the size of Aliados Avenue, will be tailored to build affordable apartments, a campus housing and a commercial services area.

As Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira revealed on 15th January 2019, exactly two years ago, "this is the largest housing project for affordable lease ever to be launched in Portugal". We are looking at about 370 and 400 apartments of various types, student residence of over a hundred houses, trade and parking areas. The renovated Monte Pedral Barrack will be able to accommodate about one thousand residents.

"Our aim is that the front building [facing Serpa Pinto street], the most agreeable side of the barrack and the one included in the Chart of the City Heritage, is to be maintained so that it can be turned into a campus housing", explained Rui Moreira, on that occasion.

Following the notice publication, the subdivision operations proposal for the Monte Pedral plot will be submitted to public debate for a period of 15 working days.