The long-awaited project has now been given the green light to go ahead.

The work is part of the third phase of the redevelopment of Passeio das Dunas and aims to create the new building for the Municipal Market from scratch.

According to Loulé City Council, “the aim is to implement the city’s main commercial space here, a driving force behind the local economy and a driver of tourism, developing a building that will be an architectural landmark for the region and the country.”

With an area of ​​approximately 15,000 square metres, the space will have a parking area with 224 spaces (floors -1 and -2), a Fish Market with 24 stalls, a Fruit and Vegetable Market with 24 stalls, a Food Court Market with 10 food spaces, six stores and eight kiosks, two offices/coworking spaces and 100 parking spaces in the external area.

In total, the building will include 66 commercial spaces, including stalls, kiosks, restaurants and stores. In addition to the traditional function of markets, the idea is to introduce new trends and potential of this economic activity and of the building itself into this space.

The project will have a total cost of approximately €20 million, with a completion period of three and a half years.

Work is expected to begin this summer.

According to the Loulé Council, the project, which was presented several years ago, “has suffered some delays as a result of changes that were introduced after a study was made on the rise in the average sea level.”