Madrid revokes licenses to expand the Constitutional Court headquarters in Chamberí

The Governing Board of the City of Madrid has agreed to assume the competencies regarding urban planning licenses and responsible declarations for the execution of the expansion works of the headquarters building of the Constitutional Court, located at Doménico Scarlatti Street, number 6, in the Chamberí district, and to delegate them to the General Directorate of Building. The agreement, adopted on September 3, 2026, is published in the Official Gazette of the Community of Madrid number 219, dated September 14, 2026 (pages 108 to 110).

The action is promoted by the General Directorate of State Heritage, under the Ministry of Finance, which is driving the comprehensive renovation and expansion of the property to adapt it to the current operational requirements of the high court. The Plenary of the Madrid City Council definitively approved the detailed study of the building by agreement on July 21, 2026, in accordance with articles 60, 61.5, and 62.2 of Law 9/2001, of July 17, on the Land of the Community of Madrid.

A unique state-owned building

The property, intended for public administration use, consists of three joined and interconnected truncated conical bodies at the ground floor level, of different sizes and heights, with the main body having seven floors above ground and three floors below ground primarily intended for parking. The plot is classified as urban land regulated by Zonal Norm 3, grade 1st, level b, according to the planning map O-59/7, with a dotational use for collective services of the public administration.

Since it is a state-owned plot of a public domain nature, an urban planning collaborating entity cannot intervene in the action, pursuant to article 5 e) of the Ordinance 6/2022, of April 26, on Urban Planning Licenses and Responsible Declarations of the Madrid City Council.

Why the competent body is changing

The competencies initially belonged to the Councilor President of the Chamberí District and the Coordination of the Chamberí District, according to the organization and competency agreement for the districts of June 29, 2023. However, under article 10 of Law 40/2015, of October 1, on the Legal Regime of the Public Sector, there are technical and economic reasons that advise its specific exercise by the General Directorate of Building, of the Government Area of Urbanism, Environment, and Mobility.

• The complexity and uniqueness of the action require processing by a body specialized in licenses for large institutional buildings.
• The technical services of the Sub-Directorate General of Licenses are familiar with the project’s background, having held meetings regarding the expansion since 2019.
• The general directorate may carry out the actions using its ordinary personal, material, economic, and technical resources.

Scope and effects of the agreement

The agreement recalls the competencies delegated to the district and delegates them to the General Directorate of Building, solely and exclusively regarding the expansion of the Constitutional Court building. Competencies regarding contracting and expenses shall be exercised in accordance with the organizational agreement of the Urban Planning area, and the head of the General Coordination of the Mayor’s Office is authorized to resolve interpretation doubts, and the Urban Planning area to issue the implementing decrees. The agreement takes effect from its adoption and shall be reported to the Plenary. Signed by the director of the Office of the Secretariat of the Governing Board, Carmen Toscano Ramiro (file 03/14.282/26).

The decision streamlines the processing of a large-scale institutional work in the heart of the Chamberí district, by concentrating the license of an emblematic building of the State administration in a specialized technical body. For the residents, it represents a firm step toward the modernization of a unique property whose renovation will improve the functional performance and efficiency of the headquarters of the highest interpreter of the Constitution.

Source: Official Gazette of the Community of Madrid, no. 219, September 14, 2026, section III (Local Administration), pp. 108-110 (official reference: BOCM-20260914-34, file 03/14.282/26).