Distrito Castellana Norte

The redevelopment site is divided between public (76.56%) and private use (23,44%). Regarding the area allocated to private uses, residential buildings will cover 12.60% of the total surface, while the commercial areas and private facilities will cover 10.8% and 0,03% of the total area, respectively. The public usage spaces, which cover the majority of the redeveloped site, are divided between the new urban road system (33.51%), green areas and parks (18.86%), public facilities, recreational areas and institutional buildings (13.30%), and the new railways infrastructure (10.89%). The area assigned to offices is included within the commercial areas.

The redevelopment project aims to transform a former industrial area into an innovative business hub, by establishing a dynamic Central Business District to attract international corporations and large-scale enterprises. The redevelopment initiative will have a significant impact on both the local and national economy, estimating a substantial increase of approximately USD 16.3 billion (1%) to Spain's GDP. By offering high-quality office facilities and services, the project will generate significant employment opportunities at both local- and national-level. It is anticipated that a total of 350,000 jobs will be created, with 200,000 positions emerging during the construction phase alone. The other 150,000 positions will be created during the activity and operational phases of the public and private infrastructure, commercial areas, and offices. The provision of offices and commercial spaces is expected to attract international talents and companies, fostering a vibrant ecosystem of innovation and economic growth. Lastly, the combination of retail spaces within the housing and office structures will significantly improve the overall attractiveness of the area.

The redevelopment initiative aims to create a sustainable neighborhood to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable urban development within the city. To restore biodiversity and improve the urban ecosystem, the initiative will create 390,700 sqm of green spaces, including a main central park and the revitalization of the existing green areas surrounding the chapels of San Roque and Nuestra Senora de Lourdes. The project will reconnect the city with the natural park of the Hills of El Pardo, and the planting of native species will greatly benefit the urban ecosystem, bringing the city closer to the Sierra mountains biodiversity. The buildings will target and improve energy efficiency with the introduction of innovative energy-saving systems, a district-wide HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) networks to reduce energy consumption and smart two-way grids to reduce energy waste. The HVAC system will reuse waste heat by exchanging it between buildings, with the smart two-way grids which will connect to the district heating network. The initiative will focus also on reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases by employing renewable energy resources, aiming to create a net-zero neighborhood. The electricity system will be able to sustain the mass deployment of electric vehicles thanks to the implementation of solar-energy production and solar panels within the new streets and squares of the neighborhood and on the new buildings. In addition, the implementation of sustainable last-mile logistics for deliveries, with small distribution points, warehouses, lockers and pickup points will reduce the carbon footprint of last-mile deliveries. The project planned significant improvements on the water management system, initially by renovating the water supply pipelines which improves water resource efficiency and reduces consumption. The new water management will develop an innovative water collection and reuse system, with the creation of storm tanks to collect rainwater, avoid rivers contamination and irrigate public green areas. The structure will be complemented by a smart system for irrigation to reduce water consumption and waste. Lastly, the initiative will implement a sustainable drainage system by using porous pavement to allow the completion of water cycle, the recharge of underground natural aquifers and the irrigation of green areas using rainwater. The project will be guided by a circular approach on waste management, as it is currently developing a reuse system for waste materials produced in the construction site to reuse all the possible materials (92.5% of the total materials used) employed during the projects. The construction process will develop a material life cycle assessment and a detailed waste plan to store, sort and recycle 800,000 tons of waste to reuse them as construction materials. These measures will reduce the carbon footprint produced by managing waste by 70%.

The redevelopment project has a clear objective in fostering social equity and inclusiveness in a neighborhood that experiences a lack of services provision and is detached from the rest of the city. Firstly, the project plans to allocate 4,000 housing units to public housing, with 2,100 of them assigned for subsidized social housing with rent price limits for low-income families. On total, the project will create a total of around 10,500 housing units. The project will provide residents with crucial public facilities including schools, healthcare services, cultural hubs, community centers and sports facilities. The citizens' participation in the redevelopment initiative is actively encouraged through the establishment of the Fuencarral and Las Tablas neighborhood offices. These centers serve as social hubs for residents to discover the project and express their concerns and needs, with a connected online platform that facilitated direct engagement with over 150,000 citizens. Having a clear focus on addressing mobility challenges and improving sustainable mobility, the initiative focuses on reducing the use of private car while expanding public transportation networks. The project includes the introduction of a new 3 km metro line with three additional stops within the neighborhood, micro-mobility measures such as walkable areas and bicycle paths spanning 12.8 km, and small warehouses for sustainable last-mile logistics. The mobility interventions will also reduce the traffic and increase the interconnection between the neighborhood and the city center by creating a new transport hub at the Chamartín station and the new intermodal area La Paz. The project will provide the neighborhood with a Priority Bus System to connect the area with the city center. In addition, the renovation will build three new traffic bridges and a road tunnel to improve reduce traffic congestion and improve mobility within the entire area. 

The offices buildings of Castellana Norte received the LEED Certification at Gold level in 2020. In addition, the renovation project received the pre-certificate BREEAM ES Urbanismo 2020 for the commitment to social and environmental benefits of the community and the city.

The funding sources employed for the redevelopment of the site come from both private and public sources. Public fundings are directed to finance the investment in public infrastructures and public facilities, while private sources are employed to finance private infrastructures and services, real estate developments and purchase of land. The total funding for the redevelopment of the site amounts to around USD 11.7 billion, which increases to USD 27 billion considering the private investments directed in the purchase of private properties. On this total, the direct public investments correspond to around USD 2 billion.

The Municipality of Madrid financed the project by selling the redevelopment site to the private company Crea Madrid Nuevo Norte, and promoted investments for public facilities and infrastructures. On the other hand, Crea Madrid Nuevo Norte entirely financed the redevelopment of the area by employing private resources.

BREEAM (2021). Madrid Nuevo Norte obtiene el pre-certificado BREEAM ES Urbanismo 2020. Accessed on 29/04/2024. Available here.

Image from ARUP, retrieved here.