Favorable environmental report for single-family housing in Pinillos

The General Directorate of Environmental Quality, Climate Change and Water of the Government of La Rioja has issued a favorable strategic environmental report regarding the Specific Modification of urban land delimitation at 18 Iglesia Street in Pinillos, promoted by Simón Amuchastegui García. The resolution, signed on September 10, 2026, by the general director Isabel Vitoria Díez, is published in the Official Gazette of La Rioja number 177, dated September 15, 2026, within section III of Other provisions and acts.

The action, processed as a simplified strategic environmental assessment file EAE No. 09/2026, aims to group three existing plots (Iglesia Street numbers 18, 20, and 22) to undertake the construction of a single-family home on a single resulting plot. The Pinillos City Council requested the initiation of the procedure on February 20, 2026.

Processing and consultations

The environmental body initiated the consultation phase with the affected public administrations on May 21, 2026, with a fifteen-day deadline. The following entities were consulted:

• General Directorate of Environmental Quality, Climate Change and Water
• General Directorate of Natural Environment and Landscape
• Sub-directorate General of Emergencies and Civil Protection
• General Directorate of Urban Planning and Housing
• General Directorate of Culture (Conservation and Promotion Service of Historical-Artistic Heritage)

During the process, favorable reports were received from the Higher Council of Cultural, Historical and Artistic Heritage of La Rioja (May 26), the Sub-directorate General of Emergencies and Civil Protection (June 4), and the General Directorate of Natural Environment and Landscape (September 7). The General Directorate of Urban Planning and Housing reported with observations on June 4, although for environmental purposes, it was considered that the modification could continue its processing. No objections were received during the public exhibition period.

Protective and corrective measures

The favorable report is conditional upon the adoption of protective and corrective measures, in addition to those already proposed by the promoter:

• Climate change: adaptation of construction to the microclimatic aspects of the territory, passive bioclimatic architecture, and the installation of renewable energy systems, especially solar panels, both for own use and for feeding energy into the grid.
• Waste: avoid all dumping in the construction area, prohibit machinery repair and maintenance tasks within the intervention area, and manage waste in accordance with Royal Decree 105/2008, of February 1.
• Noise: provide the acoustic zoning map at a minimum scale of 1/5,000, in accordance with Royal Decree 1367/2007, of October 19.
• Urban Planning: the General Directorate of Urban Planning and Housing indicated that the general interest of the modification is not sufficiently argued, that the grouping of plots must be processed through the cadastral procedure, and that the viability of private free use must be justified, among other observations.

Validity and effects

The resolution agrees not to subject the modification to the ordinary strategic environmental assessment procedure, as no significant environmental effects are foreseen. The report will lose its validity if the final approval of the Specific Modification does not occur within a maximum period of four years from its publication in the Official Gazette of La Rioja. Pursuant to Article 31 of Law 21/2013, of December 9, on environmental assessment, the report shall not be subject to any appeal, without prejudice to those that may proceed through judicial or administrative channels against the act of approval.

The resolution represents a key administrative step to unlock housing construction in the rural center of Pinillos, a small municipality, and confirms that the action is compatible with the conservation of the landscape and the natural values of the environment, provided that the imposed environmental conditions are met.

Source: Official Gazette of La Rioja, no. 177, September 15, 2026, section III. Other provisions and acts, pp. 15927-15930 (official reference: BOR-A-20260915-III–3519).