Madrid Nuevo Norte proposes an urban planning model different from that which has been implemented in Spain in recent decades, with closer similarity to the more pioneering actions in Europe.

Madrid Nuevo Norte is the most significant large-scale urban regeneration project in our country in recent decades, both in terms of sustainable and innovative design and magnitude of the action and its transformative power. So much so that this project has become the figurehead of European urbanism beyond our borders.

Currently, a dozen major European projects have integrated the latest trends in urban planning into their urban regeneration initiatives, especially in Germany, Italy, England and the Netherlands. Beyond Europe, there are also significant projects in cities such as New York, Toronto or Sydney.

The new generation of large projects underway in recent years has focused on sustainable mobility and creating dense, compact cities in which different land uses mix and complement each other. All these characteristics are essential to achieving public spaces vibrant with urban life, a primary objective of current trends.

These new actions build on notable projects developed in previous decades, such as La Défense in Paris and Potsdamer Platz in Berlin.

Commonalities between iconic European projects

Large European urban projects are highly diverse in terms of size, conditions and locations. However, they share several characteristics. For instance, most actions are implemented through different public-private partnership models. Mixed uses (especially housing with local shops and office spaces) are also essential to new large urban developments, which are designed with them in mind. Additionally, older projects, such as La Défense, or more recently, Canary Wharf in London, which did not incorporate mixed uses to their design, are being reviewed and modified to create housing, office space, local businesses and facilities.

In line with this trend, Madrid Nuevo Norte’s design is fully committed to mixed uses, embracing the lessons learnt from previous experiences.

These initiatives share a common factor, namely, the regeneration of urban spaces using pre-existing infrastructures or industrial areas that have become obsolete or continue in use and prove an urban barrier. The large gaps created by these infrastructures, in particular in port and railway areas, offer an excellent opportunity for these cities moving forward.

As in Madrid Nuevo Norte, which originates at Chamartín train station, these projects, including King’s Cross in London, sought to upgrade, integrate and bring value to a large railway station located within the urban fabric. Europacity, in Berlin, and Porta Nuova, in Milan, are also developments linked to their main train stations, and the enormous potential of transport infrastructures for urban mobility.

Another common feature of large international urban regeneration projects is that, overall, they have taken full advantage of the location near major urban centres and large-capacity transport infrastructures to create state-of-the-art business centres.

Madrid Nuevo Norte excels among the best

Against this backdrop, Madrid Nuevo Norte has positioned itself in the premier league of large international projects with which it shares commonalities. It also stands out as the most significant European project of its kinds, stretching north to south for 5.6 kilometres, equivalent to nearly the size of Madrid’s central core. It is the same distance as between the Neptune Fountain and Plaza de Castilla.

Broader and more active citizen participation is one of the more noteworthy best practices of the most innovative international urbanism trends. To that end, Madrid Nuevo Norte has conducted an unprecedented process to listen to citizens and take on board their feedback and needs.

Against this background, Madrid Nuevo Norte will be the best legacy for Madrid moving forward, an iconic project that will make it easier for the city to compete with other major international capitals in terms of job creation, innovation and sustainable development.