Canillo Approves Sustainable Urban Plan for Incles, Boosts Policing

Canillo's parish council has definitively approved Modification 4 to the Parish Urban Planning and Organisation Plan (POUP) for the Incles area, following a binding favourable report from the Technical Urbanism Commission (CTU) that included only minor clarifications and editorial fixes. The council ratified the changes during its ordinary session on Wednesday, paving the way for publication in the Official Bulletin of the Principality of Andorra (BOPA) next week, when the plan takes effect.

Provisionally approved on 9 November after prior government approval, the update lifts the associated licence suspension, though restrictions linked to Modification 5—now at provisional stage—remain in place. The revisions promote sustainable growth by doubling the minimum plot size in Incles from 3,000 to 6,000 square metres, lowering land occupation and building densities in urban and urbanisable areas, mandating symmetrical roofs, and safeguarding pre-1950 buildings from demolition. These structures can expand by up to 25% if their historic features are retained, with adjustments to land cession rates and height limits. The measures more than halve the parish's theoretical population capacity and sharply reduce overall buildable area, prioritising landscape preservation, heritage protection, and quality of life.

Cònsol Major Jordi Alcobé called the plan "a before and after" for local urbanism, highlighting collaborative technical efforts across administrations that delivered "qualitative growth, integrated with the territory and not massified." He noted the process's efficiency, completed in under a year from provisional approval, providing legal security for property owners and planning clarity for the council.

Although no formal allegations period was required, around 30 of the parish's approximately 300 landowners sought meetings in recent weeks to assess personal impacts. No consultations have taken place for over a month and a half, suggesting concerns were addressed, Alcobé said. Owners can now file appeals directly with the independent CTU; the council would intervene only if cases proceed to the Batllia court.

The session also featured the swearing-in of a new traffic officer, doubling the urban policing team to 18 members in two years. This supports 12-hour shifts, full parish coverage during peak times, two officers on night duty, and a permanent Soldeu patrol. Council members approved regulations for officers' use of cameras, pending Video Surveillance Agency approval.

Separately, discussions touched on tourism: Cònsol Major Alcobé indicated plans to raise Tibetan bridge entry fees by €2 to prevent overcrowding and maintain around 100,000 annual visitors, while keeping the Roc del Quer viewpoint open year-round except Christmas and New Year's Day. Tourism councillor Àlex Kinchella reported strong 2025 results, with the bridge generating €1.55 million (up 9.6%) and the viewpoint €381,264 (up 40.1%). No price hike is planned for the viewpoint.