🏙️ Alicante designs the future: experts call for flexible and sustainable urban plan
Leading urbanists, architects, engineers and climatologists discussed the city's development strategy within the framework of the new Master Plan (PGE)
Alicante, 2 July 2025 - The College of Architects of Alicante hosted a technical session on the development of the General Structural Plan (PGE), with the participation of experts in urban planning, architecture, climatology, engineering and law. The event was part of the public participation in the development of the plan and aims to adapt the development of the city to current challenges: climate, sustainability and the needs of citizens.
📌 Urban planning - for everyone and together with everyone
Rocio Gomes , Urban Development Councillor, opened the meeting by highlighting the importance of the process:
"We want Alicante to be a city designed with and for its residents. Participation is key to this."
She expressed gratitude for the "valuable suggestions" made by the experts and stressed that they would help "create a plan that everyone can feel connected to."
🧠 Key findings: what experts suggest
The following speakers spoke at the meeting:
🌿 Jose Maria Ezquiaga (architect, urbanist)
Highlighted the need for flexible planning tools that can adapt to changes. Key points:
- Renaturalization of the city
- Energy efficiency and self-sufficiency
- Compact city
- Health , children and elderly accounting
☀️ Jorge Olsina (climatologist, professor at UA)
Suggested:
- Climate Change Adaptation Plan
- Infiltration parks and climate shelters
- Water Cycle Program
- More trees and water in the city
- Climate risk maps update
🏘️ Esmeralda Martinez (architect, geographer)
Supported the creation of a city with a human, ecological and creative scale. Key ideas:
- Improving the quality of life and health
- Densely populated, functional areas
- Integration of the natural environment into urban planning
- Urban regeneration and sustainability
🚉 Manuel Castaño (Infrastructure Engineer)
Focus on sustainable mobility :
- Parking lots
- Unloading the center via AP7
- Development of the TRAM tram network to the southern regions
- Support Via Park as a mainstream destination
⚖️ Raphael Bayester (public law lawyer)
Suggested:
- Coordination between all administrative levels
- Political, institutional and social consensus
- The plan must be flexible, reliable and realistic.
🤝 Participation of all is the key to sustainable development
Following the reports, a general discussion was held, open to those present, where all the proposals presented were discussed. The results of the meeting will be included in the official public participation document , preceding the further development of the new General Plan of the city.