Specific Action Project (PAE)

What the Specific Action Project (PAE) is

The Specific (or Special) Action Project, known in Spain as Proyecto de Actuación Específica or PAE, is the planning instrument used under Spanish regional legislation to authorise public-interest or socially beneficial uses and installations on non-developable (rural) land, when those uses are incompatible with ordinary general planning but are backed by sufficient justification of territorial need. Depending on the region, this instrument is known under different names: Proyecto de Actuación Especial in Andalusia, Calificación Urbanística in Castilla-La Mancha and Aragón, or Authorisation of Use on Non-Developable Land, among others.

It is the standard instrument for siting renewable energy installations (solar farms, wind farms, battery storage) on rural land in Spain, as well as for facilities, specific agricultural activities and certain industrial or logistics installations that have no place under ordinary planning.

When it is needed

A PAE is required when:

• The project to be sited on non-developable land is not expressly provided for as a permitted or authorisable use in the municipality's general planning.
• The use is of public interest or social benefit, justifying its siting on rural land.
• The planning authority requires this instrument as a prerequisite for building and activity permits.

For renewable energy projects, the PAE is usually processed in parallel with, or coordinated alongside, the environmental assessment procedure and the sector-specific energy authorisation, with all three instruments needed before construction can begin.

How it is processed

The procedure varies by Spanish region, but generally follows these stages:

1. Preliminary consultations with the competent planning authority to identify the documentary requirements and applicable procedure.
2. Drafting of the Action Project, including a justification report on the public interest, a description of the use and installations, an analysis of alternatives, and supporting plans.
3. Submission to the competent planning body (regional department or provincial land-use commission, depending on the case).
4. Public information period and consultation with affected bodies (roads, heritage, environment, agriculture).
5. Authorisation decision issued by the competent body, which may include additional conditions.

Common mistakes

The most frequent issues that delay or block processing are:

• Submitting the PAE without coordinating its timeline with the environmental assessment procedure, which can create inconsistencies between the environmental decision and the PAE's conditions.
• Insufficient or generic justification of public interest, without specifically arguing why the use is necessary on non-developable land and cannot be sited on developable land.
• Lack of familiarity with the applicable regional planning regulation, which varies significantly between Spanish regions.
• Failing to identify in advance effects on other sector regulations (livestock trails, public forest land, public water domain) that may require additional permits.

Why choose Ideas Medioambientales

We process Specific Action Projects across the main Spanish regions where we operate, coordinating planning procedures with the environmental assessment process and the project's sector-specific authorisations. We are familiar with the specific requirements of each administration and realistic processing timelines.

Tell us the region and type of project, and we'll advise you on the applicable procedure and estimated processing timeline.