Redaccion
The Supreme Court has endorsed the urban development project of the future Valgrande neighborhood in Alcobendas, which aims to create 8,600 homes. However, its urban development has been delayed due to a technical defect identified in the strategic environmental assessment of an artificial mound or mountain.
This is stated in a court ruling accessed by Europa Press, where the judges dismissed the appeals filed by the Alcobendas City Council, the Compensation Board of Sector S-1 of the Alcobendas General Urban Plan; and the Polytechnic University of Madrid, among others, against a ruling from October 2022 issued by the Madrid High Court (TSJM).
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The Madrid High Court upheld the direct challenge to the Partial Plan of Sector S-1 ‘Los Carriles’ and the Special Infrastructure Plan, declaring the nullity of both the Partial Plan and Special Infrastructure Plan for considering the environmental assessments conducted as not complying with the law.
The Court explains that an artificial mound or mountain of such magnitude – with an average length of 1,300 meters, reaching heights of up to 22 meters with trees – requires «a specific strategic environmental assessment, which cannot be deemed satisfied by the assessments conducted, as this specific action was not subjected to the proper consideration of the environmental body, and thus could not be evaluated by the same.»
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In a statement, the Compensation Board indicates that it will thoroughly examine the ruling to take the necessary steps to drive this project forward.
Furthermore, it has revealed that a new partial plan, initially approved by the Alcobendas City Council since August 20, 2024, is already in place to replace the invalidated one, addressing the technical flaw in the strategic environmental assessment that the high court identified in the construction of a mound, in order for it to be in effect before the end of 2025.
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«We respect and abide by the ruling, as it should be, but at the same time, we reaffirm our commitment to the project. Because it is viable, sustainable, and necessary,» explained the president of the Valgrande Compensation Board, Rafael Olabarri.
He further recalls that, regarding the essential elements of the 2019 partial plan, the ruling endorses the planning, which remains unchanged, just as it was upheld by the TSJM.
«The ruling solely pertains to the incorrect environmental processing of an ancillary part of the partial plan, namely, the execution of a land mound designed for landscape protection reasons,» he adds.
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In this context, the president of the Valgrande Compensation Board emphasizes that «the construction of 8,600 homes, extensive green areas, road layouts, equipment plots, all continue to have the approval of the Alcobendas City Council, the Community of Madrid, and the highest courts of justice in our country.»
«We will not stop until we provide a solution to the legitimate demand of the residents of Alcobendas, who need housing and are predominantly in favor of the project,» he highlights.
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The Valgrande Compensation Board considers it essential for citizens to understand the reality of urban developments like this and laments the delay in this project.
«An endeavor that has accumulated 25 years of work, investment, and enthusiasm, not only from those involved in the project – including various property profiles among companies, investors, and even the Alcobendas City Council-, but especially for the thousands of people interested in it, who are among the most affected by the delay,» emphasized Olabarri.
He then reminded that the Madrid High Court ruled in their favor almost three years ago, in 11 out of the 12 appeals filed against the project.
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The president of the Valgrande Compensation Board acknowledged that such judicial decisions cause «serious economic and social harm to everyone, exacerbating the housing problem, the top concern of Spaniards according to the CIS.»
He believes they cause «serious harm to the Alcobendas City Council which, for decades with the support of the parties representing 26 out of the 27 councilors today, has been trying to promote this city project, largely supported by citizens as a solution to the lack of housing supply and rising prices in the municipality.»
