Urban Policy

National Urban Policy of Spain

Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities

To achieve the objective of sustainable cities, an integral approach to urban issues must be chosen. In addition, the European structural funds should be made available for local projects that embrace this integral approach. This is the most important message of the Leipzig Charter, which was adopted by the European ministers responsible for urban policy on 24 May 2007.

State of European Cities Report

The State of the European Cities Report gives a valuable insight in the current situation in 258 cities in the EU territory. It is based upon the Urban Audit, which allows these 258 cities to be statistically compared for the first time. It addresses a wide range of issues including demographic change, urban competitiveness, living conditions and the administrative power of cities. The report acknowledges the role of cities as laboratories: the places where economic and societal changes are often experienced first and most profoundly. It offers a reference point for cities that seek to understand the changes around them and look for strategic reorientation.

Consolidated Text of the Land Act - Spain (Legislative Royal Decree 2/2008, 20th June 2008)

"The second final provision of the Land Act 8/2007, 28th May 2007, authorised the Spanish Government to approve, by means of a Legislative Royal Decree, and within one year of that Act coming into force, a consolidated text of that same Land Act as well as the provisions of the Consolidated Text of the Urban Planning and Land Act by Legislative Royal Decree 1/1992, 26th June 1992, that still remained in force.
This consolidation task is hereby undertaken and consists of two basic points. On the one hand, clarifying, standardising and harmonising the terminology and provisions of both laws. On the other hand, structuring and systematising several and diverse provisions from the Consolidated Text of 1992 into a single general provision for the Land Act, in accordance to the attributions of the Autonomous Communities, as far as housing and urban planning are concerned."

European Parliament Resolution of 20 May 2010 on the contribution of the Cohesion policy to the achievement of Lisbon and the EU2020 objectives

In its Resolution, the EP "points out the key role of cities in achieving the EU2020 goals; urges that their experience and contribution be taken into account in implementing the EU2020 priorities, especially as regards climate change, social integration, demographic change and investments in sustainable economic development, energy, transport, water management, health care, public safety etc; agrees with the Council's draft conclusions that regions are to be involved in the future growth and jobs strategy; since any strategy in this field is to be executed in cooperation with regions and cities, suggests that the Commission and Council take into account the advice of the Committee of the Regions on the EU 2020 Strategy."

State legislation on Land and Urban Planning

Since the entry into force of the 1978 Constitution, Spain has a territorial organization based in 17 Autonomous Communities (Regions) and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. Each Autonomous Community has competence to adopt its own legislation on spatial and urban matters.

The General State Administration through its ministerial departments, develops urban policies, particularly in the areas of housing, land, transport and communications, or the protection of river and coastal public domain, in this regard by establishing state-level sectoral legislation, such as de Land Act, wich regulates the enforcement of constitutional rights throughout the Spanish territory.

The Consolidated Text of the Land Act (Royal Decree 2/2008, 20th June 2008), of state-level scope, consolidates the Land Act 8/2007, 28th May 2007, and the precepts that remained in force in the Royal Decree 1/1992, 26th June 1992, approving the Consolidated Text of the Urban Planning and Land Act.

It is included the urban state legislation predates the 1978 Constitution, of supplementary application to the Autonomous Communities having their own urban legislation, and with direct application to the Autonomous Communities without their own urban legislation, as well as the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, which have not legislative capacity.

Regulations on Spatial and Urban Planning: Principality of Asturias

Since the entry into force of the 1978 Constitution, Spain has a territorial organization based in 17 Autonomous Communities (Regions) and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. Each Autonomous Community has competence to adopt its own legislation on spatial and urban matters.

The General State Administration through its ministerial departments, develops urban policies, particularly in the areas of housing, land, transport and communications, or the protection of river and coastal public domain, in this regard by establishing state-level sectoral legislation, such as de Land Act, which regulates the enforcement of constitutional rights throughout the spanish territory, and the state urban legislation, preceding the 1978 Constitution, in a supplementary application.

Regulations on Spatial and Urban Planning: Cantabria

Since the entry into force of the 1978 Constitution, Spain has a territorial organization based in 17 Autonomous Communities (Regions) and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. Each Autonomous Community has competence to adopt its own legislation on spatial and urban matters.

The General State Administration through its ministerial departments, develops urban policies, particularly in the areas of housing, land, transport and communications, or the protection of river and coastal public domain, in this regard by establishing state-level sectoral legislation, such as de Land Act, which regulates the enforcement of constitutional rights throughout the spanish territory, and the state urban legislation, preceding the 1978 Constitution, in a supplementary application.

Regulations on Spatial and Urban Planning: Castilla la Mancha

Since the entry into force of the 1978 Constitution, Spain has a territorial organization based in 17 Autonomous Communities (Regions) and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. Each Autonomous Community has competence to adopt its own legislation on spatial and urban matters.

The General State Administration through its ministerial departments, develops urban policies, particularly in the areas of housing, land, transport and communications, or the protection of river and coastal public domain, in this regard by establishing state-level sectoral legislation, such as de Land Act, which regulates the enforcement of constitutional rights throughout the spanish territory, and the state urban legislation, preceding the 1978 Constitution, in a supplementary application.

Regulations on Spatial and Urban Planning: Cataluña

Since the entry into force of the 1978 Constitution, Spain has a territorial organization based in 17 Autonomous Communities (Regions) and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. Each Autonomous Community has competence to adopt its own legislation on spatial and urban matters.

The General State Administration through its ministerial departments, develops urban policies, particularly in the areas of housing, land, transport and communications, or the protection of river and coastal public domain, in this regard by establishing state-level sectoral legislation, such as de Land Act, which regulates the enforcement of constitutional rights throughout the spanish territory, and the state urban legislation, preceding the 1978 Constitution, in a supplementary application.

Regulations on Spatial and Urban Planning: Murcia

Since the entry into force of the 1978 Constitution, Spain has a territorial organization based in 17 Autonomous Communities (Regions) and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. Each Autonomous Community has competence to adopt its own legislation on spatial and urban matters.

The General State Administration through its ministerial departments, develops urban policies, particularly in the areas of housing, land, transport and communications, or the protection of river and coastal public domain, in this regard by establishing state-level sectoral legislation, such as de Land Act, which regulates the enforcement of constitutional rights throughout the spanish territory, and the state urban legislation, preceding the 1978 Constitution, in a supplementary application.

Regulations on Spatial and Urban Planning: Navarra

Since the entry into force of the 1978 Constitution, Spain has a territorial organization based in 17 Autonomous Communities (Regions) and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. Each Autonomous Community has competence to adopt its own legislation on spatial and urban matters.

The General State Administration through its ministerial departments, develops urban policies, particularly in the areas of housing, land, transport and communications, or the protection of river and coastal public domain, in this regard by establishing state-level sectoral legislation, such as de Land Act, which regulates the enforcement of constitutional rights throughout the spanish territory, and the state urban legislation, preceding the 1978 Constitution, in a supplementary application.

Regulations on Spatial and Urban Planning: País Vasco

Since the entry into force of the 1978 Constitution, Spain has a territorial organization based in 17 Autonomous Communities (Regions) and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. Each Autonomous Community has competence to adopt its own legislation on spatial and urban matters.

The General State Administration through its ministerial departments, develops urban policies, particularly in the areas of housing, land, transport and communications, or the protection of river and coastal public domain, in this regard by establishing state-level sectoral legislation, such as de Land Act, which regulates the enforcement of constitutional rights throughout the spanish territory, and the state urban legislation, preceding the 1978 Constitution, in a supplementary application

Regulations on Spatial and Urban Planning: Islas Baleares

Since the entry into force of the 1978 Constitution, Spain has a territorial organization based in 17 Autonomous Communities (Regions) and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. Each Autonomous Community has competence to adopt its own legislation on spatial and urban matters.

The General State Administration through its ministerial departments, develops urban policies, particularly in the areas of housing, land, transport and communications, or the protection of river and coastal public domain, in this regard by establishing state-level sectoral legislation.

The Islas Baleares have not full planning legislation, therefore besides the Consolidated Text of the Land Act 2008, it is directly applicable the state planning legislation preceding the 1978 Constitution, that is the Consolidated Text of the Urban Planning and Land Act of 1976, and the Regulations of Urban Planning and Urban Mangement (the Regulation of Urban Discipline of 1978 has a supplementary application because Baleares has its own Regulation).

Regulations on Spatial and Urban Planning: Islas Canarias

Since the entry into force of the 1978 Constitution, Spain has a territorial organization based in 17 Autonomous Communities (Regions) and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. Each Autonomous Community has competence to adopt its own legislation on spatial and urban matters.

The General State Administration through its ministerial departments, develops urban policies, particularly in the areas of housing, land, transport and communications, or the protection of river and coastal public domain, in this regard by establishing state-level sectoral legislation, such as de Land Act, which regulates the enforcement of constitutional rights throughout the spanish territory, and the state urban legislation, preceding the 1978 Constitution, in a supplementary application

Spanish Capital & Cities +100

The publication "Capital & Cities +100. Statistical information of the Spanish cities 2010" shows the current situation of all provincial capitals and Spanish municipalities over 100,000 population from factors that are determinant in their evolution. It analyzes their demographic, socioeconomic (such as employment and their relationship with access to goods and services, including housing), and occupation of land and urban planning information collected from these cities by the Urban Information System (SIU).