Balearics building area jumps 55.39% in first half
The Balearic Islands saw the biggest rise in Spain in building area approved for new construction and major refurbishment in the first half of 2026. The approved area rose 55.39%, figures released on Tuesday by the Higher Council of Spanish Architects’ Associations show. The data cover the surface area signed off for work, not the number of individual projects.
Across Spain, approved area increased 18% to 20.99 million square metres between January and June, the highest level since 2019. That was almost 3.2 million square metres more than in the same period of 2025.
New construction drives the rise
New-build schemes supplied the main lift nationally. Architects approved 72,056 new homes, 12,682 more than a year earlier, while the area approved for new construction climbed 20% to 15.56 million square metres.
Of that total, residential building accounted for 11.78 million square metres, up 19%. Non-residential construction rose 23.47% to 3.78 million square metres.
The Higher Council of Spanish Architects’ Associations said new construction has produced the strongest figures since 2019. But it warned that new households are still forming faster than homes are being built.
Refurbishment area also expands
Area approved for major refurbishment rose 12% nationwide to 5.43 million square metres. In residential buildings, it grew 13% to 3.10 million square metres — the highest figure in the series and 126% above the first half of 2019.
Yet the number of homes approved for major refurbishment fell 8% to 28,411, a drop of 2,560 from a year earlier. The council said the gap reflects partial work on shared parts of buildings, including façades and roofs, aimed at improving energy efficiency.
Council president Marta Vall-llossera called the results ‘very positive’ amid a housing shortage. She also urged caution over geopolitical uncertainty, rising interest rates and the end of European Next Generation funds, and called on administrations to keep backing the sector.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com