A new urban horizon in Madrid
The Spanish capital is on the brink of a significant transformation with the launch of the Abroñigal operation, an ambitious project aimed at revitalising 300,000 m² of railway and logistics land in the south of Madrid. This development, dubbed Madrid Nuevo Sur, aims to convert these areas into livable, commercial, and business spaces, providing a solution to the urban needs of the area.
Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida has highlighted the importance of this project during the presentation of a new Southern Strategy, emphasising that Abroñigal represents a unique opportunity to rebalance urban development in the city. Unlike its counterpart in the north, known as Madrid Nuevo Norte, this initiative faces fewer administrative obstacles and has a single landowner: Adif, which is under the Ministry of Transport.
Despite the similarities between both projects, there are fundamental differences that could facilitate the faster advancement of Abroñigal. Firstly, its size is considerably smaller; while Madrid Nuevo Norte covers more than 2.3 million m², Abroñigal is limited to 300,000 m². This reduction in scale is seen by experts as a crucial factor for accelerating its development.
Moreover, Abroñigal is located in an already urbanised and populated environment, contrasting with the almost virgin lands of the north. The proximity to established neighbourhoods such as Entrevías and Méndez Álvaro provides a solid foundation on which to build new infrastructures and services.
However, for this project to see the light, an agreement between the central Government and the City Council will be necessary. Almeida has urged ministers to formalise public commitments to advance the negotiations that have been in the works for some time. The upcoming proposal from the popular group to the Plenary aims to secure unanimous support to initiate this process.
Antonio Giraldo, a socialist councillor and urban planner, has pointed out that having a single public owner greatly simplifies the necessary procedures to launch Abroñigal. This could eliminate one of the main obstacles that have characterised other urban developments in Madrid.
Another favourable aspect for Abroñigal is its inclusion within the new Municipal Strategic Plan (PEM) that is being drafted by the City Council. This regulation will allow for avoiding complicated modifications to the general plan in force since 1997, thus facilitating a more agile processing.
Despite the prevailing optimism regarding the project's advancement, it is estimated from Cibeles that it will not be until 2032 when work on the ground begins. Nevertheless, Almeida has described this operation as "a historic opportunity" to revitalise the south of Madrid and create a new urban hub around Atocha and Vallecas.
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