Ribeira Grande debates room for development in planning review
Ribeira Grande is consulting the public until 18 October on a plan that cuts urban land by 30%, prompting opposition concerns about future development.
Ribeira Grande is discussing a revision of its Municipal Master Plan, known as the PDM, that would change how land across the municipality is classified. The proposal reduces the area currently designated as urban land by 30%. Public consultation began on 18 September and runs until 18 October 2026.
According to RTP Açores, more than 90% of the municipality would be classified as rural land under the proposed plan. Councillor Miguel Bernardo confirmed the scale of the change. The revised PDM will set rules for land use across the municipality in the coming years, including the boundaries of urban areas.
The proposed reduction has drawn objections from the opposition. The debate concerns how much land should remain available for urban development and what the new boundaries could mean for construction. The plan is still at the consultation stage and the changes have not yet been approved.
Residents, landowners and people considering projects in the municipality have until 18 October to examine the proposal and take part in the public discussion. The outcome matters for Ribeira Grande and São Miguel because the PDM will influence where future housing projects and other activities can be developed.
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