Santa Cruz de Tenerife Cuts Building Permit Wait Times by Six Months

Urban planning in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is becoming more efficient, with the City Council successfully cutting the wait time for building permits by six months. Processing times now range from three to five months. Councilwoman Zaida González attributed this improvement to an increase in internal staff, noting that new options for private technical outsourcing—introduced by a regional decree in April 2025—have not yet been used by the sector.

These changes are part of a broader effort to boost the local real estate market and address the city's housing crisis. While the opposition party Vox has called for more transparency regarding private contractors, the PSOE has welcomed the faster processing times, emphasizing the need to keep housing a top priority.

The committee also discussed the Las Retamas sports complex in Ofra. The City Council plans to take back control of the facility before its contract expires, citing repeated failures by the management company. Reported issues include unauthorized fee hikes, a closed swimming pool, limited operating hours, and unpaid bills. Sports Councilor Alicia Cebrián confirmed that once the city takes over, it will audit the facility’s finances to ensure the service continues to run properly.

Finally, the committee saw a heated debate over a 5,000-euro advertising contract for the 2026 Carnival. The PSOE questioned the decision to award the contract to the platform EDATV, arguing that the content produced did not meet quality standards or tourism goals. Councilman Javier Caraballero clarified that no payment has been made, as the company has yet to provide the necessary documentation and invoices. The contract remains under review following significant pushback from the council.