Alicante seeks more green lungs and additional Tram lines

Residents of Alicante have prioritised the actions that should be considered in the Structural General Plan, which will shape the future of the city. The initial document has already completed its consultation and public exhibition period before returning to the Alicante City Council for provisional approval. The citizens are clear: they want more green areas and an expanded tram network.

These two initiatives received the highest scores during the sessions that the Urban Planning Councillor, Rocío Gómez, dedicated to explaining and debating the documents with all interested parties.

Regarding green areas, Alicante boasts seven urban parks with over 100 hectares, some of which are quite recent, such as Sergio Melgares and Plaza Juan Pablo II. However, they are widely dispersed. The city centre, for instance, lacks a large open space, something that will be somewhat alleviated by the Central Park. This is the project to create the largest green area in the city.

However, the advancement of the PGOU includes new areas such as the coastline, with the longest promenade in Europe; La Condomina and the Torres de la Huerta.

In terms of mobility, one of the main novelties of the Structural General Plan is the provision for four new Tram lines that will complete the connection of all Alicante's neighbourhoods, especially those in the south.

Among the projects most valued by Alicante residents, the first is completing the Vía Parque. Currently, the Alicante City Council and the Valencian Government are pending, after the latest expropriations, the tendering of works to complete this new mobility ring. The regional government will fund the works.

The other major project that has caught the attention of Alicante residents is the creation of an innovation and sports area around the University of Alicante.

Regarding citizens' concerns, the lack of housing in the city is the most pressing issue. The Alicante City Council has launched several urban operations such as Las Lomas de Garbinet and the partial plan of La Albufereta, which will create new housing, 20% of which will be protected in these developments.

The Urban Planning Councillor, Rocío Gómez, highlighted "the harmony that exists between what the City Council and the residents of Alicante consider important when designing the future Alicante, both in terms of green infrastructure and mobility, as well as urban growth and development, and services and regeneration, the three major areas we have established and on which we have consulted and debated during the consultation process."