A new kindergarten in Almancil is to be paid for by IKEA and built under the direction of the Social and Cultural Association of Almancil (ASCA) and is underwritten by Loulé council.
The new facility will have space for 157, 0 to 5-year-olds and will take in children from neighbouring parishes as well as the growing number from Almancil itself.
The project has the support of the IKEA Group which is contributing around €200,000 towards the cost as part if its pathetically low contribution to local social infrastructure.
In a statement, the Swedish Group says support for the construction of this project "is part of its sustainability strategy which aims to promote and support the development of the region where its new investment is being implemented, with the latest IKEA store, and the opening The MAR Shopping Algarve, on September 27, and the Designer Outlet Algarve in the Autumn."
The school space also will have an amphitheatre, several outdoor play areas and a garden.
"In the year celebrating the 25th anniversary of our Association, we are very proud to announce the laying of the first stone of this project. After a long period devoted mainly to senior, which will continue, we now turn to an age group that also needs a care as more and more young couples need support.
"As a result of a happy combination of efforts between the Municipality of Loulé and the IKEA Group, it was possible for us to think about realising this dream, for which we would like to express our gratitude for the constant commitment of the council and the IKEA Group," said Hermes Alberto, the President of the Social and Cultural Association of Almancil.
As part of the IKEAS Group’s planning application approval, Loulé council was to benefit by “some improvements to a local school” and various road connections that would have to be built anyway to allow access to the store.
This retail centre project is said to be costing IKEA €200 million and its 'contribution' to local society will cost the retailing giant just €200,000 - a miserly amount by any standards.
IKEA has managed to avoid spending a more robust percentage payable by developers for local social projects, due to the naivety of local planning officers and the greed of Loulé council whose desire to have a large ratepayer on its territory overcame good sense and objectivity at the negotiating table.