The president of the Ibiza and Formentera branch of the Official College of Architects of the Balearic Islands, Lluís Oliva, has questioned whether the planned park at Ca n’Escandell should be reduced in size to create additional housing.

Oliva said that removing around 10,000 square metres from the planned green space could, in his estimation, allow between 60 and 80 additional homes to be developed.

The idea is part of a wider call from Oliva for Ibiza to review its planning rules and increase housing supply in response to the island's housing pressures. It is not currently an approved modification to the Ca n’Escandell project.

Ca n’Escandell Currently Includes 532 Homes

The Ca n’Escandell residential development is planned across approximately 17.3 hectares of public land.

The current project provides for 532 affordable homes, while around 90% of the overall area is allocated to public facilities and open spaces. This includes a 78,205 square metre urban park, which represents approximately 54% of the sector.

The urbanisation works were awarded by SEPES in 2024 and are part of the preparation of the site for the future residential development. Recent government statements have indicated that construction of the housing is expected to begin in 2027.

Oliva acknowledged that the park forms part of an already approved plan and was not introduced as a recent decision. His argument is that the housing situation has changed and that the existing planning approach should be reconsidered.

An Estimate, Not an Approved Proposal

Asked directly how many additional apartments could potentially be created by taking 10,000 square metres from the park, Oliva estimated between 60 and 80 homes.

That figure comes from his own calculations and should not be interpreted as an official capacity assessment. No planning modification to reduce the park by that amount has been announced as part of the current Ca n’Escandell project.

The architect argued that Ibiza's housing demand today is different from when the planning framework for the development was originally established and questioned whether the balance between green space and housing should be reviewed.

Calls for More Housing in Suitable Areas

Oliva also defended greater use of building height in appropriate urban areas as one way of increasing housing capacity without expanding development into protected landscapes or other environmentally sensitive areas.

He specifically argued that taller buildings should not automatically mean high-rise development, suggesting that additional height could be considered along wider avenues and in areas where it would be compatible with surrounding buildings.

He also called for planning rules and development requirements to be reviewed so that new housing schemes can be financially viable.

Questions Over Strategic Residential Plans

A significant part of the interview focused on the Balearic Government's Strategic Residential Plans.

Oliva questioned whether the rules will deliver the thousands of homes that have been discussed publicly, particularly because development in areas of transition depends on specific planning and physical conditions.

He said Ibiza has three areas of transition potentially affected by the framework, while Sant Antoni does not currently have one because of flood-related constraints. He also said Formentera and Sant Joan do not meet the population criteria for the mechanism.

According to Oliva, one project involving almost 300 homes has already been submitted in Ibiza, but he stressed that further administrative and planning steps are required before development can proceed.

Private Development and Affordable Housing

Oliva also argued that public authorities alone will not be able to provide all the housing required on the island.

He said the IBAVI should continue concentrating on protected housing for people on lower incomes, while private developers could be encouraged to build housing aimed at other parts of the market.

His comments reflect his own position on how Ibiza should respond to its housing shortage and are not an announcement of a new government housing programme.

Ca n’Escandell Remains the Existing Plan

For now, the Ca n’Escandell project remains based on the established configuration of 532 homes alongside the large public park and other facilities.

Oliva's proposal to reduce the park by 10,000 square metres and potentially accommodate another 60 to 80 homes is part of a broader debate over how Ibiza should balance housing demand, public spaces, development intensity and territorial protection.

No change to the size of the planned Ca n’Escandell park has been confirmed as a result of the comments.