Tenerife Architects Launch Planning Service, Fight Direct Contracts

The College of Architects for Tenerife, La Gomera, and El Hierro (COA) has launched a new service to issue "technical compliance reports." This initiative aims to make managing urban planning licenses on the islands much smoother. The new tool, introduced under Decree-Law 3/2025 (April 21), is designed to speed up procedures and cut down on administrative waiting times. This is particularly important given current delays and the urgent need for more housing.

The new office, located at the COA's building, will serve government bodies, property developers, and the public. To run this service, the COA has put together a special team. This team will provide technical help and work efficiently. Víctor Acosta, the COA secretary, emphasized how important this service is. He directly connected it to the current housing crisis and highlighted the need for quick, professional, and legally sound processes.

Besides launching the service, the COA also plans to run an information campaign for staff in various government departments. The aim is to explain how the new office works and what it offers, encouraging cooperation between institutions based on transparency and legal compliance. The College has already started meeting with parliamentary groups in the Canary Islands to explain the new decree and how the service will operate. They plan to meet with other political and local government representatives too. Acosta stressed that as a public body, the College has a duty to help administrations understand and work together to resolve problems that directly affect people.

At the same time as these efforts to streamline processes, the College of Architects has stepped up its fight against what it sees as excessive "direct contracting" by public bodies. This refers to administrations hiring their own internal teams ("in-house resources") instead of external architects. This practice, which used to be rare, has become common in recent years. It's causing worry because it affects fair competition and the architectural profession in the Canary Islands.

The COA's legal team has taken action, leading to two court rulings that challenge this method of contracting. These rulings confirm that public bodies must provide clear, objective, and proven reasons when they choose to award contracts directly. The court decisions specifically mentioned direct contracts made by the towns of Candelaria and Arafo with the public company Gesplan.

María Nieves Febles, the Dean of the College, said these court decisions confirm the COA's long-standing position. The College has warned for years about the widespread use of "in-house resources," a mechanism that was originally meant for very specific situations. The COA sees these rulings as a boost to highlight two main concerns: the quality of architectural services and encouraging new businesses within the profession. The Dean argued that fair competition ensures better quality control. In contrast, direct awards are based on individual choices, which could also harm the planning of a diverse region like the Canary Islands by forcing everyone to follow the same rules.

Regarding new businesses, the College warns that if this practice continues, it will weaken architectural firms and seriously damage the future of the profession. The COA points to office closures and a shortage of architects as direct results. The institution reaffirms its commitment to tackle what it calls an unfair situation.