Cartagena council blocks probe into controversial Los Mateos land deal

On Friday, Cartagena's Finance Committee voted against establishing an investigation into the contentious purchase of contaminated land in Los Mateos, aimed at building 40 public housing units. The proposal, submitted by PSOE and MC, was rejected with opposition votes from the ruling PP-Vox coalition and former mayor Ana Belén Castejón of Sí Cartagena.

The acquisition process began in 2022 as the city sought land for social housing, backed by a European subsidy. Initially, technical assessments considered the site suitable due to an existing building permit for 40 homes. Later, however, reports confirmed contamination concerns.

An official report from the Polytechnic University of Cartagena, delivered in March 2023, revealed the contamination issues. In May, a further evaluation by Hera Holding stated that inertisation was the only viable remediation method, estimating remediation costs over €540,000.

The municipal company Casco Antiguo purchased the plot in June 2023 for €437,279 plus VAT, factoring in estimated remediation costs. Attempts to tender the remediation and construction works at over €6 million failed, causing the loss of a €1.68 million European grant tied to project deadlines.

Legal complaints and political conflict

In August 2025, neighbourhood associations and contaminated soil platforms filed a legal complaint against Mayor Noelia Arroyo and other officials for alleged environmental crimes, negligence, and misappropriation of funds. Nonetheless, PP-Vox and Sí Cartagena blocked any investigation by the Finance Committee.

Former mayor Ana Belén Castejón, then president of Casco Antiguo, defended the purchase process, dismissing allegations as baseless defamation and empty noise. She emphasised the project’s aim to address housing shortages for students, vulnerable families, and provide supervised flats for inclusion-focused organisations.