Matosinhos Innovation District earmarks 10% of land for housing

Following the closure of Galp’s refinery operations in Leça da Palmeira, Matosinhos, there is a plan is to create an ‘Innovation District’ on the site.

A PwC study on the potential of this new urban area projects that construction will begin in 2029, with half the space earmarked for housing—including affordable housing—though the mayor is less optimistic; only 10% is currently designated for residential use.

Luísa Salgueiro, as quoted by the news source JN, describes Galp’s timeline for starting construction of the ‘Innovation District’ on the former 250-hectare refinery site in 2029 as “very ambitious.”

She points out that soil decontamination must take place first—a process expected to last about “a decade”—and notes that decommissioning work is still underway.

Beyond the timeline, the Mayor of Matosinhos also sharply criticises the residential real estate plans outlined in the study conducted by the consultancy PwC for Galp.

“Our Municipal Master Plan stipulates that, in economic activity zones of that size, 10% of the area be allocated to housing,” the mayor says; while she acknowledges a higher percentage might be acceptable, “it won’t reach 50%.”

“It is the City Council that ensures compliance with urban planning standards, and there is no provision for 50% of the development to be residential housing,” she states.

In other words, the figure of 19,000 new residents—projected under a scenario where half the land is designated for housing—”has not been substantiated,” she concludes.

Source: JN