justifies its strategic options nor demonstrates how environmental considerations were incorporated into its drafting.

According to AVE, the territorial strategy outlined in the PDM, which was recently subject to public consultation, reflects the consolidation and expansion of an “urban sprawl” model. The association warns that this approach would lead to a “significant increase in artificial land use, with negative impacts on territorial sustainability, contrary to both national and European planning guidelines.”

The group has also raised legal concerns over the changes, questioning the legitimacy of altering strategic priorities and the reclassification of certain rural plots into urban land.

“From an overall perspective, both the procedure and the proposal fall short of expectations when analysed through the lens of environmental protection and public interest,” AVE stated, stressing that the plan’s provisions clash with Guimarães’ ambition of becoming a “One Planet City”.

To mitigate potential environmental impacts, AVE insists that new governance mechanisms must be created to ensure integrated land-use management. The association expressed willingness to collaborate on shaping this structure but outlined strict conditions: the establishment of a Permanent Commission for Urbanism and Land use Planning, within the Municipal Assembly, alongside rigorous monitoring through the State of Territorial Planning Report and the Environmental Assessment Evaluation and Control Reports.