Porto Municipal Assembly cancels meeting on inclusive zoning

A extraordinary meeting of the Municipal Assembly (AM) of Porto scheduled for November 9, called by the Socialist Party (PS) to discuss the issue of inclusive zoning, was dismissed, according to a notice published today.

“ It says that, at the request of the municipal group that had initially requested the extraordinary session (...) the extraordinary session of the Assembly scheduled for November 9, 2026, at 9:00 p.m., in the Hall of Sessions of the Palaces of the Council of Porto, can be read in a notice signed by the president of AM, Marta Massada.

According to a letter sent by the municipal group of the PS to Marta Massada, to which Lusa had access today, the cancellation was requested “taking into account, on the one hand, the political developments that took place at the meetings of the Municipal Council of Porto of October 20 and November 3, 2026 and, on the other hand, the fact that this Municipal Executive has not yet submitted the announced reform of the regulation that it has on the rules applicable to the Inclusive Zonement Regime”.

The extraordinary session had been convened regarding a proposal approved by Pedro Duarte's executive on October 20 – with the votes against the councilors of the PS and of the Enough – to authorize seven companies to pay compensation instead of building affordable housing, as foreseen by the measure of inclusive zoning of the Municipal Master Plan (PMD) of Porto.

However, on Tuesday, the municipal executive approved to reverse the decision that had been taken and, in statements to journalists, the mayor, Pedro Duarte, revealed that he intends, at the next executive meeting, to bring a proposal for opening public discussion of the new inclusive zoning regime.

By the beginning of last week, the majority in office in the executive had already revealed that they would propose to review these decisions, after meeting with the opposition and urbanism services and announced “that they are promoting the revision of the municipal regulation that defines the terms of inclusive zoning”, now forcing hotels and local accommodation to contribute to the availability of affordable housing in the corresponding area.

“ Its practical application has shown that its good intentions do not translate into a tangible benefit for the city. Since the entry into force of the Perequative Regulation on Edificability of Urban Charges, in 2021, no house has been built or allocated the lease accessible under this regime”, they criticized.

In a press conference, on the same day but before this note, socialist councilman Manuel Pizarro classified the deliberation approved last week as “politically wrong, inconsistent, morally condemnable” and with “large weaknesses” from a legal point of view.

The Public revealed that of the 1,39 million euros that the municipality will receive, the vast majority (88%) comes from three companies: PM29 Real and Ateneu 33 Real, real estate companies based in Lisbon, held 100% by Crystal Holding, based in Luxembourg; and Historical Porto Offices, owned by businessman Mário Ferreira.

Together, the three companies should deliver 2,937 square meters for affordable housing. Instead, they will pay 1.23 million, an average of 418 euros per square metre, a value far below the market.

On October 29, the Porto Camp had approved, in a popular assembly, to speak in front of the Port House during this meeting.