Building licence delays add pressure to Murcia's housing market

Long waiting times for planning approvals are slowing new housing and pushing prices higher across the Region

Delays in granting building licences are increasingly holding up new housing across the Region of Murcia. Meanwhile, demand for homes continues to far outstrip supply. Although the legal deadline for building licences is supposed to be three months (90 days), around 80% of municipalities in the Region are taking longer, according to the College of Architects of the Region of Murcia (COAMU).

In Murcia’s largest cities, waiting times are far longer than the law allows. In Murcia capital city, applicants are waiting an average of 454 days, while in Cartagena the delay is 381 days. Other large and medium-sized municipalities, including Lorca, Molina de Segura, Alcantarilla and Torre Pacheco, also exceed the legal deadline by several months, while only a small number of towns manage to approve licences within the required timeframe.

Construction companies and property developers warn that these delays are creating a serious bottleneck in the housing market. When licences are held up, new homes cannot be built, projects are postponed or abandoned as costs continue to rise. Each month of delay adds to construction expenses, which are ultimately passed on to buyers and renters.

The impact is already being felt across the property market in the Region of Murcia. With fewer new homes coming onto the market, competition for existing properties increases, pushing prices higher and making it harder for young people and families to buy or rent. Developers also warn that long waits for licences increase uncertainty, discourage investment and reduce the number of projects developers can afford to carry out.

While some councils have cut waiting times slightly compared to last year, architects say the problem is still serious. Without faster procedures, more staff in planning departments, and simpler processes, licence delays will keep limiting new housing and make it even harder for people to find a home in the Region of Murcia.

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