Funchal politicians challenge regional government over urban planning autonomy

Independent councilors and the CHEGA party in Funchal are raising concerns regarding the increasing intervention of the Madeira Regional Government in municipal urban planning decisions.

Independent councilors Luís Filipe Santos and Jorge Afonso Freitas argue that the Funchal Municipal Council is losing its autonomy. They note that the suspension of certain areas of the Municipal Master Plan (PDM) means urban processes are no longer decided solely by the municipality but are subject to regional administration intervention. Specifically, Regional Regulatory Decree No. 16/2026/M has established preventive measures in the Amparo area of São Martinho, requiring prior authorization from the Regional Secretariat for Equipment and Infrastructure for certain urban acts.

Simultaneously, the CHEGA municipal group is demanding clarifications regarding approximately 30,000 square meters of land in Amparo. The regional government recently froze this land, which was intended for future public housing, following the municipality's partial suspension of the PDM in that zone. CHEGA leader Maria do Carmo Gomes has called for transparency regarding the project's details, including the number of housing units, timelines, budgets, and the specific owners of the affected plots.