The Governing Council declares the new CIFP of Es Castell as a PEIE

The Governing Council has declared the plot where the new Integrated Vocational Training Center (CIFP) of Es Castell is to be built as a general system of public teaching equipment and has declared the construction works of the center as an autonomous Project of Special Strategic Interest (PEIE). The agreement was adopted in the session of September 25, 2026, and is published in the Official Gazette of the Balearic Islands (BOIB) no. 122, of September 29, 2026, under reference 9693.

The decision is framed within article 27 of Law 4/2026, of June 11, on urgent measures to accelerate strategic projects that contribute to the economic transformation of the Balearic Islands. This regulation reserves the declaration of autonomous PEIE to the Governing Council, which must be published in the BOIB, must justify the public interest of the action, and must identify the land, ownership, and specific use of the equipment. The creation and transformation of public centers correspond to the Government of the Balearic Islands according to article 102 of Law 1/2022, of March 8, on education in the Balearic Islands.

A plot of 6,063 square meters at Plaça Esplanada

The new CIFP will be located on cadastral plot 0354701FE1105S0001WX, at Plaça Esplanada, 22, in the municipality of Es Castell. The property has a land area of 6,063.00 m² and is the heritage of the Autonomous Community of the Balearic Islands, acquired through direct purchase. The declaration as a general system of public teaching equipment aims to ensure the full effectiveness of the action and provide coverage for the effective public destination of the educational center.

The Department of Education and Universities is the holder of the teaching activity of these regulated studies and the competent body to promote and execute actions on public equipment for educational use. The drafting of the executive project for the works will be the responsibility of the General Directorate of Housing and Architecture.

Renovation of the former Conde Cifuentes barracks and a new workshop building

The project provides for the comprehensive renovation of the main building, the former Conde Cifuentes barracks, and the construction of a new ground-floor and first-floor building, connected to the barracks by a walkway, which will house all the workshops and services of the CIFP. The total planned constructed area is 5,564.00 m². The functional distribution is organized as follows:

• Basement floor: restricted use for center staff, such as warehouse, library archive, and administrative archive.
• Ground floor, in the former barracks: the public and more noble space of the center, with administrative spaces, the secretariat, the management, and guidance services.
• Two upper floors: multipurpose and computer classrooms of 60 or 100 m² usable area, smaller classrooms for split-group sessions, and offices for the departments.

Prior municipal procedure and motivation of general interest

In accordance with article 27.3 of Law 4/2026, on September 21, 2026, the general secretary of the Department of Education and Universities sent the request for a prior municipal report to the Es Castell City Council, which was received on September 23, 2026. On September 22, 2026, the start of the procedures was communicated by official letter to the Department of Economy, Finance and Innovation, which is competent in matters of strategic projects.

The agreement motivates the general interest in four points:

• Creation and expansion of an essential public educational service, adapted to the labor market and with equal opportunities in access to technical education in Menorca.
• Resolution of space shortages, rehabilitation of heritage, and adaptation to the Technical Building Code regarding safety, accessibility, acoustics, and health.
• Social and territorial cohesion and educational equity, avoiding forced travel to complete certain vocational training cycles.
• Optimization and efficient use of the regional public heritage.

The agreement will be notified to the Es Castell City Council and the Department of Economy, Finance and Innovation, and was signed in Maó on September 25, 2026, by the secretary of the Governing Council, Antònia Maria Estarellas Torrens, and by the president, Margarita Prohens Rigo.

The declaration of PEIE is the legal route to obtain the administrative acceleration and simplification of deadlines necessary to execute the works and launch the educational activity. For Menorca and for the municipality of Es Castell, the operation means providing itself with a first-rate vocational training infrastructure and expanding the offer of training cycles without having to leave the island.

Source: BOIB, no. 122, September 29, 2026, Section III. Other provisions and administrative acts, pp. 52469-52471 (official reference: 9693).