Álvaro Santos says five-year average for PDM reviews is not compatible with the country’s needs; Alto Minho leads on PRR and Norte 2030

James H. Amos • August 20, 2026 23:34

Álvaro Santos, president of the Northern Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N), warned on Monday that an "average of five years" to complete revisions of Municipal Master Plans (PDM) "is not compatible" with what the country currently needs, particularly when it comes to making space for industry and licensing new housing. Speaking about Alto Minho, he said the territory stands out as a "model pupil" in delivering both the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and Norte 2030.

CCDR-N and Álvaro Santos call for faster PDM reviews

Referring to the length of time these planning updates are taking, Santos stressed: "The PDM revision processes, in the words of the Minister for the Economy and Territorial Cohesion, are taking an average of five years. This is absolutely unthinkable, unjustifiable, and puts us on a collision course with what the country needs in order to develop."

He argued that "deep changes are needed", insisting that the current framework is too restrictive. "We cannot have so many legislative constraints. We have already been reflecting and working on this. And, at the Government’s initiative, we have already made our contribution so that these structural measures are introduced and discussed in decision-making centres, so that the country can have a different capacity to plan land use in a more flexible, agile and faster way," he added.

Ponte de Lima meeting with CIM Alto Minho on PDM, PRR and Norte 2030

Santos was speaking in Ponte de Lima after meeting local council leaders from the Intermunicipal Community (CIM) of Alto Minho. The session was used to review the status of PDM revision processes as well as the levels of delivery under the PRR and the Norte 2030 programme.

According to the CCDR-N president, six councils in the region are behind schedule in the PDM review process.

Pressure on contractors

On PRR and Norte 2030 implementation, Santos said Alto Minho has been "a model pupil" and is "above the average of intermunicipal entities across the whole Northern Region".

António Barbosa, who leads the CIM, said that-against the clock-municipalities are working and "putting pressure on contractors on the ground" to reach "a further 90% implementation" of PRR works by 31 August, so they can secure extra time to "close the investment cycle".

CCDR-N and CIM Alto Minho also signed "an addendum to the contract for cohesion and territorial development, representing an increase of 10% on the defined amount, taking it to €141 million".

Speeding up to avoid penalties

Barbosa said the PDM revision process "worries many local authorities". "There are two that have had their PDM completed for some time, Melgaço and Caminha, and there is another that is at a very advanced stage, Ponte de Lima, and then we have six situations that are further behind," António Barbosa confirmed.

He noted that the documents must be approved by the end of June and, for that reason, "Alto Minho will have to speed up" to avoid penalties. Santos also cautioned that sanctions may apply under the law, linked to "the suspension of licensing in new urban expansion areas".