Álvaro González, the delegate for Housing Policies and president of the Municipal Housing and Land Company of Madrid (EMVS), participated in SIMED 2026, the 22nd Mediterranean Real Estate Salon, held in Málaga from 12 to 14 November. He took part in a panel discussion focused on affordable housing and public-private collaboration.
During the event, González highlighted the necessary conditions to expand the supply of affordable housing through cooperation between public administrations and the private sector. He underscored the importance of mobilising public land, as Madrid does, through mechanisms that maintain ownership, establish long concession periods, and provide legal certainty to project participants.
He presented Madrid's experience with the Suma Vivienda Plan, a model that facilitates collaboration between the City Council and the private sector by granting land use rights. This approach allows awarded companies to finance, construct, and manage affordable rental housing for a specified period, after which the properties revert to municipal ownership.
González also addressed the need to reduce construction and processing times, discussing issues such as the prior preparation of land, coordination of urbanisation and building works, joint tendering for projects and construction, and the incorporation of industrialised systems.
He emphasised the importance of listening to the sector and leveraging experiences from each phase to introduce improvements in subsequent tenders. The Madrid City Council has a dedicated institutional space at SIMED, which serves as a showcase for new affordable rental projects and public-private collaboration plans throughout the three-day event.
