The petition, titled 'For the Safeguarding of Madeira's Urban Model', aims to limit construction to a maximum of ten floors and has gathered 1,577 signatures, exceeding the minimum requirement of one thousand for discussion in the regional parliament.
The movement argues that legislative changes allowing buildings of 20 or more stories should not stem from isolated statements or economic pressures but from broad social and technical consensus, supported by independent studies on urban, landscape, and environmental impacts.
Proponents question the assumption that taller buildings lead to cheaper housing, citing other factors like demand and market dynamics. They advocate for prioritizing urban rehabilitation, recovery of vacant buildings, and promotion of controlled-cost housing and affordable rentals.
