The PSOE municipal group in Ibiza has announced a motion asking the Town Hall to stop the planned relocation of Mercat Nou and instead develop a new market on the site's current location.

The proposal is due to be presented at the next municipal plenary session. The Socialists say they support the construction of a modern market, but believe it should remain where Mercat Nou has operated for decades.

The issue comes as the municipality continues to process its project for a new Mercat Ciutat d'Eivissa at the former Sa Bodega sports facilities, around 150 metres from the existing market.

PSOE Wants the Current Location Retained

The PSOE says its proposal is not against replacing the existing market.

Instead, the party argues that the city should build a new facility on the current site rather than move the market to Sa Bodega.

Its municipal spokesman, Pep Tur, says the discussion should focus on which project is most appropriate for Ibiza rather than on whether a new market is needed.

The party says a new facility should improve conditions for market traders and customers, including accessibility, climate control, logistics, loading and unloading, waste management and the overall shopping experience.

Municipal Project Would Move the Market to Sa Bodega

The current municipal project proposes constructing the new market on the former sports courts at Sa Bodega, next to Parc de la Pau.

The site is around 150 metres from the current Mercat Nou.

The project approved initially by the Town Hall includes the preliminary works project, the economic and financial feasibility study and the environmental impact study for the future market and its underground car park.

The municipality has described the development as a project of around €30 million, to be operated through a 40-year administrative concession.

Underground Parking Included

The proposed new market would include underground parking across three levels.

The municipal project presented in June envisages more than 300 parking spaces, alongside commercial areas and a restaurant area with terraces facing Parc de la Pau.

It also includes underground facilities for waste management and loading and unloading, with the aim of moving those operations away from the surrounding streets.

The Existing Market Site Could Become Green Space

Under the municipality's current plans, the existing Mercat Nou site would eventually be transformed into a large green area.

The proposal envisages connecting that future space with Parc de la Pau to create a larger area of greenery in the centre of Ibiza.

The Town Hall has presented this as one of the main benefits of building the new market at Sa Bodega.

The current market would continue operating while the new building is constructed, allowing traders to remain in their existing premises until the replacement facility is ready.

PSOE Proposes Temporary Facilities

The alternative put forward by the PSOE would keep the market on its current site while construction takes place.

The party's motion proposes the use of suitable temporary facilities to allow traders and customers to continue using the market during the works.

It says the temporary arrangement should be properly planned so that market activity can continue throughout the construction period.

146 Submissions During the Public Process

The relocation project has already generated public discussion.

During the latest public consultation process, 146 questions or submissions were received from 30 individuals and groups, according to information previously released by the Town Hall.

The municipality noted that some of the submissions addressed similar or repeated issues.

The PSOE is now pointing to those 146 submissions as part of its argument that the alternatives and objections raised during the process should be examined before the project advances further.

Other Groups Have Also Questioned the Project

The proposed relocation has attracted criticism from some organisations and residents.

Among those questioning the plan are the environmental organisation GEN-GOB and the citizen platform opposing the change of location.

Their concerns have included the scale of the development, parking provision, traffic and the use of the existing Sa Bodega sports area. These are positions expressed by those organisations rather than established findings about the project.

The Town Hall Supports the Relocation

The municipal government has defended the proposed move to Sa Bodega.

Its position is that constructing the replacement market next to Parc de la Pau would allow the existing market to remain operational during construction and would avoid the need for a temporary market lasting several years.

The Town Hall has also argued that the current Mercat Nou building has significant problems, including issues affecting its parking facilities, and that a comprehensive rehabilitation would not provide the same solution as building a new facility.

A Project Already in the Planning Process

The new Mercat Ciutat d'Eivissa has moved beyond the initial announcement stage.

In June, the municipal plenary approved the initial versions of the economic and financial feasibility study, preliminary works project and environmental impact study.

That began a public consultation process in which individuals and organisations could submit observations before the project moves towards later stages of its development.

Construction Has Not Yet Started

Despite the progress through the planning and consultation stages, the new market is not currently under construction.

The municipal government has previously stated that it expects construction to begin during the first half of 2027 and that the new facility could be completed in 2030.

Those are projected dates rather than a construction schedule that has already been completed or reached its final implementation stage.

Two Different Proposals

The current political debate therefore centres on two different approaches.

The municipal government supports building the replacement market at Sa Bodega and subsequently converting the existing market site into green space.

The PSOE wants the replacement market to remain on the current site and proposes temporary facilities so the market can continue operating while construction takes place.

Both proposals involve replacing the existing market with a more modern facility, but they differ over location and the way construction would be managed.

Why the Location Matters

The location affects more than the market building itself.

The Sa Bodega proposal is linked to the future use of Parc de la Pau, underground parking, surrounding traffic and the eventual redevelopment of the existing Mercat Nou site.

Keeping the market in its current position would mean a different approach to construction, including the temporary relocation of traders and customers during the works.

Those differences are now at the centre of the discussion.

The Debate Continues

The PSOE's motion will ask the municipal government to halt the definitive processing of the relocation and examine a new project based on the existing site.

The municipal government, meanwhile, continues to defend the Sa Bodega location and the wider project already approved at the initial stage.

The final direction will depend on the decisions taken by the municipal council as the project progresses through its remaining administrative stages.

What Happens Next?

The immediate next step is the presentation of the PSOE motion at the next Ibiza Town Hall plenary.

The proposal calls for two actions: stopping the definitive processing of the relocation to Sa Bodega and supporting the development of a new Mercat Nou on its current site, with temporary facilities to be used during construction.

The existing municipal project remains in its planning and processing stages.

A Decision With Long-Term Consequences for Central Ibiza

The Mercat Nou project will shape an important part of central Ibiza, not only through the future market itself but also through the use of the land at Sa Bodega and the current market site.

The municipal government's proposal would create a new market beside Parc de la Pau and later turn the existing site into green space.

The PSOE is asking the council to reconsider that approach and keep the market in its current location.

For now, the debate remains open as the municipal project continues through its administrative process and the opposition motion moves towards the plenary session.