The objectives of the rehabilitation plan were to provide added value: firstly from the social plan to favour persons with reduced financial positions and prevent family overcrowding by renovating the buildings as necessary to provide families with living space allowing personal dignity and, secondly, from the cultural point of view, trying to maintain the character of each district by keeping families within their environment as far as possible to prevent their uprooting. Environmental measures were also taken, improving the homes’ energy efficiency through insulation and solar heating.

When the work started, it was calculated that there were 2,800 sub-standard homes without basic sanitary installations, building conditions below the minimum standards and with a high degree of overcrowding. Once the starting point, needs and opportunities had been analysed, the action involved developing an action plan to recover basic conditions of security and health in as many houses as possible. This challenge was met by setting up a framework for co-operation in which local, regional and national governments participated as well as professional associations and private initiative.

• On 30 March 1999, the Government of Andalusia approved specific regulations aimed at revitalising as soon as possible the urban and social environment in the historic district of Cadiz.
• The Department of Public Works and transport of the government of Andalusia commissioned the “Empresa Pública de Suelo de Andalucía” company to undertake the work with the Cadiz Architects’ Association, which set up a group of professional project directors.
• A public participation commission was set up to achieve greater public involvement.
The outline agreement between the Government of Andalusia and Cadiz City Council was signed on 28 June 2000, setting up the necessary co-ordination mechanisms.

The results of the action in figures were:
• integral rehabilitation of 753 homes in 94 buildings.
• Repairs and maintenance to 1,008 homes in 163 buildings.
• Upgrading to standard of 413 homes.
• Integral remodelling of 117 homes in buildings in marginal areas outside the historic district.
The creation of the public participation commission, the existence of mixed participation models and the encouragement of association allowed the recognition of diverse opinions without reducing effectiveness.
All this provided an improved quality of life for the residents affected while making the public aware of the need to conserve what was carried out and of the advantages of local grouping to achieve better results that met requirements.

The direct beneficiaries were all the residents of the rehabilitated area and, indirectly, the residents in the City of Cadiz, some 600,000 according to the Statistical Atlas of the Ministry of Housing, since, because of the importance and central location of the historical district, the action has had a very favourable effect on the area’s economy, especially in the tourism sector.

Financing was arranged by the Government of Andalusia through its budgets with private initiative, with land provided free by the Cadiz City Council together with exemption from certain municipal taxes and with additional funds from the public company.
A low interest bank loan was arranged at the start of the project by the managing public company; acquisitions remained the property of the managing company which provided low-cost rentals. Actions in collaboration with private owners involved their minimum participation of 30% of the operation total. Numerous credits were provided later, partly by the national and regional governments within the plans for protected housing.

Government of Andalusia
Phone: (+34) 956 009 600
pablo.lorenzo.rubio@juntadeandalucia.es
Mr Pablo Lorenzo Rubio

01/03/1999

case

Urban Policy > Housing > Housing management

Housing maintenance