Canillo Approves Scaled-Back Incles Valley Housing Plan for 16 Homes or 8 Chalets

The Canillo council approved a revised partial urban development plan on Wednesday for a plot at the entrance to the Incles valley, reducing the scope from an original proposal of five blocks with up to 45 apartments to eight plots for a maximum of 16 semi-detached single-family homes or eight chalets.

The application predated the November 2023 updates to the Parish Urban Planning Ordinance (POUP), which allowed denser multi-family construction under prior rules. After discussions with developers, the project aligned with the council's current emphasis on quality over density, limiting buildability and environmental impact. The irregular site, spanning about 8,460 square metres before the Deusol mountain refuge and along the riverbank, borders the Obac d'Incles path to the north, private fincas to the south and east, and the valley road to the west. Much of it is currently pasture or disused. Developers agreed to cede 20% of the land—around 1,700 square metres, exceeding the required 10%—for public use, including a valley tourism office, toilets, services, a waste area, and a path to the main valley parking now designated as public space.

Cònsol Major Jordi Alcobé welcomed the outcome, highlighting market demand for such homes as demonstrated in earlier Canaró-area developments. "We're satisfied, given the circumstances, because the change is very positive," he said. "Even though they could do more, they've chosen to do less," underscoring that "value comes from quality, not quantity." He noted eight other chalet or cabin projects pending review further into the valley.

Negotiations for the separate Armiana telecabina project, connecting central Canillo to the Tibetan bridge access path via a minimal two-pylon route, remain stalled with two of seven affected landowners. Route adjustments have resolved opposition from one of the original three holdouts, particularly those near the road, while deals with higher-elevation owners near completion for upcoming council approval. Alcobé described progress as limited, calling it a "convincing process" through persuasion, urban planning concessions, or standard overflight agreements like the Forn telecabina, which includes safety features such as surveillance cameras. "We don't want to enter a scenario of no agreement," he said Thursday, warning the situation "could get complicated" without full consensus, though the council envisions no alternatives.

In the same session, the council approved unrelated measures: a 150,000-euro deal with Ensisa for a 1,000-1,100 square metre wooden labyrinth at Soldeu platform, opening 20 June to 13 September with resident discounts to boost summer family tourism; a 50,000-euro credit supplement for Soldeu road beautification works totalling 151,525 euros; advance land cessions for 29-metre Prats road verge widening; and 139,777-euro adjudication for Forn de Calç public space including a mechanics workshop.