La Concejalía de Patrimonio Cultural destina 180.000 euros en ayudas para la rehabilitación de viviendas en La Laguna
The Department of Cultural Heritage of the City of La Laguna has opened a new call for grants for the rehabilitation of heritage properties in the municipality on Monday, May 12. This funding, amounting to 180,000 euros, is aimed at residents of the Historic City designated as a World Heritage Site, as well as all buildings in the towns and neighborhoods of the municipality included in the municipal Protection Catalog.
With nearly a thousand potential beneficiaries and the experience of previous annual calls, the Department aims to improve the habitability and modernization of these houses and buildings, a measure designed to prevent gentrification and ensure the monitoring and protection of the vast architectural heritage of the municipality.
Mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, emphasizes the importance of initiatives like these as «a necessary complement to the actions being implemented by the City Council, such as expanding the local architectural catalog or developing the first Management Plan for the Historic City. With this strategic program, we aim to continue protecting our heritage while supporting residents to continue inhabiting it, bringing it to life and preserving the social fabric of the community.»
Adolfo Cordobés, Councilor for Cultural Heritage and Territorial Planning, explains that «this measure is part of the program we want to implement to prevent gentrification of the historic area, a reality already present in many cities in the country. Although not yet observed in our city, it is a risk we take seriously and will address more broadly, in line with all the actions outlined by the mayor and the update of the Special Protection Plan. Additionally, we work closely with the group of World Heritage Cities in Spain to share experiences and projects that help us advance this goal.»
Regarding these grants, Cordobés notes that «we understand the additional costs involved in maintaining a property with a certain level of heritage protection. That’s why, since last year, we decided to increase the available funding by over 12% and reach as many people as possible.» The deadline, starting on May 12, is 30 calendar days, and applications can be submitted to any municipal office.
These grants will cover a significant portion of conservation and restoration work on facades and roofs, as well as improvements to accessibility or the renewal of electrical, plumbing, and sanitation facilities, all in compliance with urban planning regulations, historical heritage protection, and other applicable norms.
The call is made through a competitive process and in accordance with the Regulatory Framework approved by the Council on April 8, 2020, available for consultation on the City’s website. The grants are specifically for financing actions on properties located in the Historic Area and those included in the Protection Catalog of the current General Urban Development Plan.
Eligible Expenses
Eligible expenses include those strictly related to the execution, such as materials, labor, etc., including fees for professionals and other necessary costs for the work. It also covers the cost of preparing surveys of cataloged buildings, when required under the Special Protection Plan for the Historic Area and other applicable regulations.
As is customary in this grant program and based on technical assessments, only one grant will be awarded per applicant, with a maximum individual grant amount of 8,000 euros, not exceeding 70% of the total project budget. Projects eligible for grants must have a license application submitted to the Municipal Urban Planning Office between January 1, 2024, and June 11, the deadline for submitting applications.
