Zaragoza, Spain
City population: 687448
Duration: 2008 – ongoing
Implementation status: Ongoing
Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Project area: 1500000 m2
Type of area: Unknown
Last updated: October 2021

Arcosur is a new residential neighbourhood project approved for construction in 2008 after the hosting of the Zaragoza Expo 2008. In its structure, it seeks to develop a space of 4 500 000 m2 into around 21 000 new homes, and out of which around 1 500 000 m2 will be squares, parks, and other green spaces. These green spaces would connect the neighbourhood and ensure all residents have access to green areas. (Ref. 1)

Arcosur 1
Source: Ref. 5

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Parks and urban forests
  • Large urban parks or forests
  • Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
  • Community gardens and allotments
  • Other
  • Blue infrastructure
  • Lakes/ponds

Key challenges

  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Regeneration, land-use and urban development
  • Regulation of built environment
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation
  • Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
  • Real estate development
  • Employment/job creation

Focus

Creation of new green areas

Project objectives

Contribute to the overall quality of urban space (ref 1) Design a new open space with parks, lakes and large gardens (ref 1)

Implementation activities

2008 during Expo 2008 the project is approved for construction (ref 1) June 2009 the construction works begin (ref 1) The first residents moved in 2012 (ref 1) In 2012 a new general directive plan was drafted to extend construction until 2018 and augment the number of residential units by 1667. (ref 2,3) In 2016 announcements were made for a 60 hectares park to be completed, an original part of the project. (ref 5)

Main beneficiaries

  • Local government/Municipality
  • Private sector/Corporate/Company
  • Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

  • Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Local government/municipality
  • Business association or network
  • Private sector/corporate actor/company
  • Citizens or community group
  • District/neighbourhood association
  • Other

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
  • Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
  • Other

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

Asociacion de vecinos Arcosur, citizen group of residents in the neighborhood organizing citizen representation in the governance and affairs of the neighborhood. (ref 1) City Council of Zaragoza responsible for initial plans and facilitating the continuation of construction efforts (ref 4); and the upkeep of the green areas in the neighborhood (ref 1) Junta de Compensación del Sector 89/3, the collective of private companies and cooperatives that have partaken in the construction projects. (ref 1) Independent landowners, reached agreement with City Council in 2004 for partial plan for Arcosur (Ref. 1,6)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown
... a national policy or strategy? Unknown
... a local policy or strategy? Yes (The management plan of the sector 89/3, in the General Urban Plan of Zaragoza. (Ref. 1))

Financing

Total cost

More than €4,000,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public local authority budget
  • Corporate investment

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget
  • Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)

Non-financial contribution

Type of non-financial contribution
  • Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
  • Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
  • Private sector (businesses, financial institution)

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area

Economic impacts

  • Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
  • Stimulate development in deprived areas

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Improved access to urban green space
  • Increased opportunities for social interaction
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Gain in activities for recreation and exercise

Type of reported impacts

Expected impacts, Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Unknown

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

No evidence in public records

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

References

1. Grupo Arqueros. (2013). Un Nuevo Barrio. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 9 September 2020].

2. Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza. (2012). El Gobierno de zaragoza aprueba inicialmente la modificacion del plan parcial de Arcosur. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 9 September 2020].

3. Europa Press. (2012). El Gobierno local aprueba el plan parcial de Arcosur. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 9 September 2020].

4. El Periodico de Aragon. (2014). Arcosur: doce años de esclavitud. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 9 September 2020].

5. Soro, Pilar. (2016). “En Arcosur falta mucho por hacer, pero tampoco vivimos en una isla”. Heraldo. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 9 September 2020].

6. Heraldo. (2009). Las primeras VPO de Arcosur comenzarán a construirse en 2009, tras 12 años de trámites. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 9 September 2020].

7. Ruiz, L. (2020). Arcosur registra un centenar de instancias para conseguir nuevos servicios. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 10 September 2020].

8. Grupo Arqueros. (2013). Plano de calles y parcelas. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 10 September 2020].

9. Ruiz, L. (2019). Los vecinos de Arcosur, indignados con el plan de crecimiento del barrio. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 10 September 2020].
Arcosur 2
Source: Ref. 9, Toni Galan