On 28 August 2026, the Basque government unveiled an intergenerational housing model for publicly subsidised flats. The Departamento de Vivienda and regional agency Alokabide aim to bring young people becoming independent and older residents who live autonomously together in a shared residential setting. The model is based on so-called “apartamentos dotacionales”: compact, accessible rental flats with communal areas and support services, within the subsidised rental sector.
The government has identified projects in Bilbao and San Sebastiánas the first locations. In Bilbao,Txurdinaga will become the Basque Country’s first publicly run intergenerational community. The development includes 107 flats and communal areas; details were finalised on 24 June 2026. In San Sebastián, a tender published on 5 May 2026 provides for 83 intergenerational flats in the Riberas de Loiola neighbourhood. The contract is worth 17.67 million euros, with a planned construction period of 24 months. The government says both projects are intended to serve as models for further locations.
The model aims to address two housing policy challenges: young adults leaving home late because of a lack of affordable housing, and the growing need among older people for independent living in adaptable, well-connected settings. According to the Gobierno Vasco Alokabide will operate the facilities. Flats are allocated through the standard register, Etxebide; since 9 July 2026, the government has been preparing a reform of the allocation criteria for public rental housing, to take better account of specific needs and social circumstances.
Further “apartamentos dotacionales” are also planned, some primarily intended for young households. In Lezo for example, 52 subsidised flats are planned. In 2026, progress was also made on transferring a former administrative building in San Sebastián-Intxaurrondo for 42 dotational homes for young people. These projects are not necessarily intergenerational, but are intended to expand the subsidised rental sector and make it easier to move into independent housing.
The government points to an increase in the housing budget and its goal of expanding the public rental housing stock. On Thursday, the Departamento de Vivienda gave no new details about the timetable for further intergenerational sites beyond Bilbao and San Sebastián. The projects reaffirmed today are considered pilot schemes; their evaluation will inform the design of future programmes.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).