Briefing
The dispute over the nearly 2,000-square-metre plot Can Pasquet in Son Sardina is escalating. On 27 February 2026, the site — earmarked for years for a plaza with a Casal de barri and a library — passed into private ownership. The city Palma had set aside in its February 2026 budget €237,976 for the purchase, but the sale went to a third party, according to local media.
Neighbourhood associations and initiatives in Son Sardina have repeatedly organised protests: many residents feel the neighbourhood lacks the meeting place promised by the project. Older people in particular cite accessibility and ease of access as key concerns. They are calling for the plot to be brought into public ownership quickly so the planned community facilities can be built.
The Ajuntament de Palma has publicly confirmed that it will first negotiate with the new owner. If no agreement is reached, the city has not ruled out expropriation; the city administration reaffirmed this threat at the end of August 2026. Opposition parties and local politicians have criticised the approach and called for a swift resolution, saying the neighbourhood’s long-held hopes have once again been dashed. Mayor Jaime Martínez has stated his intention to safeguard the public interest by purchasing the site or — if necessary — expropriating it.
Planning rules and possible applications to change the site’s use could delay the process: experts point out that private owners might try to increase the plot’s value before selling it. Until a purchase agreement is in place or formal expropriation proceedings have begun, the future of Can Pasquet remains uncertain. But much is at stake for Son Sardina: a public square with a Casal de barri and library would provide a permanent replacement for the neighbourhood’s lack of meeting and leisure spaces, and strengthen its social infrastructure.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).