Andorra Social Democrats Endorse Sustainable Land Law Report to Curb Urban Sprawl

Laia Moliné, general councillor for the Social Democrat parliamentary group, has endorsed the final report from the Commission of Study on Ensuring Sustainable Growth, which outlines 18 measures for the forthcoming land law to curb excessive urban expansion and promote long-term planning.

Presenting the report on Wednesday, commission president Jordi Casadevall of Concòrdia and vice-president Gemma Riba of the Democrats highlighted tools such as government rights of pre-emption and retraction on strategic land purchases—without expropriation—supracommunal urban planning coordination, and adaptations to parish urban plans (POUPs) accounting for population forecasts and natural risk maps. Other proposals include declining buildability outside urban cores, urban quotas for balanced growth, protections for agricultural soil and biodiversity, limits on earthworks, and unified data systems on construction. Since 2019, authorities have approved around 1.5 million square metres of development, averaging over 200,000 square metres annually, though nearly 40% remains unbuilt and activity concentrates in Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany.

In comments after the presentation, Moliné welcomed the report but warned that Andorra's infrastructure, particularly mobility networks, has failed to keep pace with an 11,000-person population increase over six years. Recent disruptions—from vehicle collisions and fallen trees to the RN-20 closure and landslides—expose vulnerabilities in internal roads and border access, often leaving the country "encapsulated" with no alternatives. "We talk about it endlessly, but nothing concrete emerges," she said.

Moliné called for a national debate on the Principat's carrying capacity, backed by comprehensive mobility data to guide public transport, access management, and projects like N-145 widening or new French routes. She urged reviving prior studies on sustainability and economic viability, plus a dedicated working group alongside LOGTU revisions, while acknowledging government steps such as bus line changes and Parallaus builds. Without integrated indicators on flows and options, she cautioned, future planning risks proceeding blindly.