Housing in Urban Rehabilitation Areas: Opportunities for Local Management in Housing Promotion

In Portugal, and at the Municipal level, the housing development is linked with territorial management tools, being the Urban Rehabilitation Operations (ORU) procedures one of these tools at local level management. This study aims to do a critical analysis of the outputs from five Urban Rehabilitation Areas (ARU) in different municipal contexts (settlements and city centres) in Portugal, namely: Belmonte, Soure, Penacova, Vila Real, and Devesas. The analysis will be focused in the: i) selection of one ARU for each municipality; ii) principal outcomes of the strategic plans for each ARU; iii) success of the ORU’ strategies to housing promotion and management; and iv) management of the housing conditions and quality of life to the residents. It will be highlighted the benefits of the Local Housing Strategies (ELH) in housing promotion, incorporating the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) funds in urban regeneration, which address the damage caused by the pandemic crisis, and following the European Commission guidelines.