Madeira's President, Miguel Albuquerque, has suggested that taller residential developments in parts of Funchal could help address the region's ongoing housing shortage.
Albuquerque identified the scarcity and high value of land as the principal challenges facing new residential construction. As a potential solution, he proposed allowing taller buildings in areas with little visual impact, citing the Ajuda area as capable of accommodating buildings of around 20 storeys.
The Regional President dismissed claims that luxury property investment or Local Accommodation (AL) contribute to the difficulty in accessing affordable housing, calling them "false issues." He stressed the importance of not discouraging investment, which he believes generates economic activity and wider benefits for the regional economy. Instead, he advocated for focusing on expanding cooperative housing, bringing vacant properties back into use, and increasing public housing supply.
