EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Facelifting Malaga’s historical town centre

Facelifting Malaga’s historical town centre – Malaga, ES

Introduction

With financial support from the URBAN I programme, the city centre of Malaga was physically regenerated. Social and economic measures were integrated with the building renovations to offer a sustainable solution to Malaga’s urban problems.

Problem

Over the years, the historical city centre of Malaga had degenerated into a dirty and degraded neighbourhood due to a growing population, uncontrolled building of housing and inadequate urban infrastructure and municipal services. The city wanted to revive the centre and turn it into a place where people would want to both visit and live.

Description

Malaga’s facelift included:

developing parks and green areas, with adequate night lighting and footpaths;
refurbishing dilapitated buildings, including the electricity and sewage systems.
building a tunnel under the city centre to reduce congestion and pollution, and facilitate pedestrian access;
training members of the police force to better assist tourists;
upgrading the service offered by Malaga’s shops, bars, restaurants etc. to both local people and tourists;
renovating the social services building and increasing the number of staff to improve the assistance to disadvantaged people.

Results

The centre is now more habitable with considerable less congestion, more green spaces, well-lit footpaths, better signposts and renovated buildings. The city’s new look draws in private investment and catalyses regeneration in the peripheral areas of the city.

EU involvement

The total cost of the project was 31.0 million euros. The URBAN I programme of the European Commission provided 15.7 million euros.

Contact info

City of Malaga
Pedro Marin Cots, tel. +34 95 213 5942

Project start date

01/01/1994

Links

Visit the City of Malaga website

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Quality of life

Keywords

Social services