Data from the first half of 2026 from the Official College of Technical Architects of Tarragona (COATT) shows a 20% increase in new construction projects in the coastal municipalities of Costa Daurada, reaching 114 developments. Compared to two years ago, the rise is 54%. However, the total number of new homes initiated has grown by less than two percentage points year-on-year, standing at 491, indicating a trend towards building single-family houses rather than residential blocks.
The COATT urges "caution," describing the figures as misleading. The increase is inflated by large developments, such as those in the new Les Oliveres neighborhood in Tarragona, which accounts for one-third of the residences initiated in Costa Daurada (165). Construction has seen a decade of growth, with a 428.3% increase from 2015 (1,120 initiated homes) to 2025 (7,184 initiated homes in this period).
COATT sources indicate that the figures from the first half of the 2010s represented the lowest point. Despite growth "with prudence," the figures "are still below the real demand needs of society."
The unique characteristics of Costa Daurada mean that, with the exception of Tarragona, the residential market is dominated by tourist apartments and second homes. The COATT's technical department explains that "it is much more profitable for developers to build single-family houses for tourists than residential blocks," and that the high cost of land hinders public development.
Municipalities like Cambrils show high numbers of construction projects and homes (94 residences), with a significant ratio reflecting the prevalence of single-family houses and tourist apartments. Other areas with high activity include Cunit and Roda de Berà. In the last 10 years, Cambrils and Salou have initiated over 1,000 residences each, surpassed only by Tarragona (1,842). Together, these three areas account for 54% of initiatives.
Construction budgets also reflect this dynamic. The average price per home in Altafulla is €228,000, in Cambrils €217,000, and in Salou €350,000. In contrast, in Tarragona, which concentrates public housing, the average price is €111,000, well below the Costa Daurada average of €135,000.
Regarding homes completed this year, 153 out of 211 are concentrated in the blocks of Emprius and Barenys in Salou. Between 2017 and 2026, 2,367 homes have been completed, while 7,184 have been initiated, with about 67% unfinished. The COATT considers this discrepancy "within normal parameters" due to construction time and bureaucracy.
The housing situation is considered "problematic," and the professional college foresees no solutions "beyond increased public investment," as "in many coastal municipalities, it is already impossible to change the dynamic; it is a matter of market."
