The President of the Regional Government of Madrid presented the large urban regeneration project at an event held at the seat of the regional government, along with the mayor of Madrid, Adif’s Strategic Planning Manager and DCN’s President.
The President of the Regional Government of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, presented the final project of Madrid Nuevo Norte to all Madrid residents, at an institutional event held in the central courtyard of the Real Casa de Correos, the seat of Government. The participation was extended to all Administrations and actors involved in the project, regarded as one of Europe’s largest urban regeneration initiatives. The event was attended by the Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, Adif’s Director-General for Strategic Planning and Projects, María Luisa Domínguez, and DCN’s President, Álvaro Aresti.
Álvaro Aresti, the President of DCN, opened the event thanking all the Administrations involved and the people of Madrid for the enormous effort made to move forward together and make Madrid Nuevo Norte a reality. The President of the company believes there is a clear cause for celebration, “because what we are presenting today is not just another urban project, but a one-off action, with a scope and a transformative power never seen before in Spain”, he explained.
Aresti also highlighted that “owing to its magnitude and relevance” Madrid Nuevo Norte is a national project, but above all a “people-centric project”. “It will contribute not only to employment growth and economic prosperity but also welfare,” he added, “helping to improve the quality of life for millions of citizens”.
DCN’s President defines this project as a public-private partnership model. “This exemplifies what can be achieved when the public and private sectors work together to give citizens the best and leave a positive legacy for future generations”, he pointed out, while recognising that “there is still a long way to go and important steps to take”. He highlighted the importance of continuing to work with the Public Administrations. “Only in this way can we guarantee the success of this project that the city needs and the people of Madrid deserve,” he concluded.
Díaz Ayuso: “A modern, transformative, technological and sustainable growth model”.
Meanwhile, the Presidente of the Government of Madrid has welcomed that Madrid Nuevo Norte is already underway. She highlighted the importance of having “put the foot to the throttle in times of an unprecedented crisis and uncertainty”. Díaz Ayuso emphasised that this is “the largest urban project of all the projects underway in Europe”. An urban action, she continued, “capable of attracting investment to create 250,000 jobs in the coming years”. The regional President considers Madrid Nuevo Norte a project that will demonstrate that a “public-private partnership can generate talent, wealth, progress and well-being”.
As for the uniqueness of this project, in the regional President’s opinion, Madrid Nuevo Norte champions a “modern, transformative, technological and sustainable” growth model.
Martínez-Almeida: “It is the urban model of sustainability and employment.”
Meanwhile, the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida has put into perspective the critical moment in which the project kicks off, amid a severe health crisis. In his view, the governments of the City Council and Community of Madrid are conveying “a message of hope and trust in the best future for this city and region”.
The mayor of the capital has argued in favour of moving forward, promoting institutional coordination, loyalty and understanding between administrations. He also considers public-private collaboration “essential”. Martínez-Almeida had emphasised the need for such synergy “to face the future and the economic and social crisis that lies ahead”.
Concerning the magnitude and significance of Madrid Nuevo Norte, the mayor stated that the fact that the capital is about to undertake “the largest urban transformation operation in any European capital in the coming years” is all the more “impressive”. Furthermore, Martínez-Almeida underlined that the urban planning model of Madrid Nuevo Norte “is not the ‘brick’ model, but the sustainability, public-private partnership and creation of investment, wealth and employment model”, the appropriate measures to move out of the economic crisis”, said the mayor.
Adif: “A historical challenge for Madrid and the railway system”
María Luisa Domínguez, Adif’s General Director for Strategic Planning and Projects also participated in the event. She stressed that both she and the institution she represents, “are proud to be part of such a crucial moment for Madrid”. Domínguez said, “We are all prepared and in the best of spirits to heed the starting signal that will allow this long-awaited dream to come true”.
The representative of the railway company pointed out that “integration” is the word that best defines “this new stage for the city” with Madrid Nuevo Norte. In Domínguez’ view, this project “is an exercise in integrating efforts and goals, needs and means to move forward working together, as it also is in planning, urban development, transport, mobility, architecture and engineering”.
Furthermore, Adif’s representative highlighted the importance of the future Chamartín station, which will be completely renovated. “It is meant to become Spain’s largest transport hub and one of the most important in Europe”. She stated that the future railway complex “will shape mobility and bring under one roof the different services -high speed, commuter, intercity buses and EMT buses- through two Intermodal Transport Hubs”. She pointed out that “making Madrid Nuevo Norte the best solution for our capital, and putting Chamartín at its heart” is a “historic challenge for our city and the Spanish railway system”. A station that will be redesigned “to meet the needs of today’s society and the expectations of future generations”, she added.
