Seville tourist housing and urban planning disputes

In Seville, the expansion of tourist-style housing has become a point of contention regarding urban planning and the local housing market. The Seville City Council is currently processing licenses for 14 new tourist apartment projects across several neighborhoods, including the historic center and Triana. Mayor José Luis Sanz noted that the number of such apartments has grown from approximately 240 to over 400 in the last three years, a trend facilitated by regional regulations from the Junta de Andalucía.

This trend has led to political friction regarding new developments. In Sevilla Este, near the Fibes Convention Center, the Lagoom Living project has faced opposition from the PSOE political group. While the project includes 691 protected affordable rental units (VPO), it also features 152 transitory accommodations.

Lagoom Living has clarified that these 152 units are intended as temporary housing solutions for individuals with specific work or personal circumstances, with a maximum stay of one year, rather than for tourism. The developer noted that they used the ‘tourist apartments’ classification in administrative documentation only because the city lacks a specific category for transitory housing. Despite this, the PSOE group has rejected the project, arguing that the inclusion of such accommodations significantly alters the nature of the development. While municipal sources suggest the project offers an extraordinary opportunity to secure affordable housing on land not previously designated for such purposes, political opposition remains critical of the project's composition.