The rehabilitation of the historical centre of Madrid

Abstract

Due to its large surface, over 320 hectares, the historical centre of Madrid included areas with a very high level of architectural, urban, social and environmental decay, there being greatly marginalised districts which shelter immigrant population . In view of this on-going urban decay of the historical centre, the three administrations (state, regional and local) entered several agreements for the Rehabilitation of the Residential and Urban Heritage, which, together with the Cohesion Funds and the URBAN projects for Cinema and Theatre Itineraries, both financed by the European Union, intend to regenerate the urban base Coordination and management are in the hands of the Municipal Housing Corporation. The formula selected to intervene in the historical centre has been the declaration of Preferential Rehabilitation Areas, which focuses on the squares or main streets in each district. Another f ormula to intervene has been the rehabilitation of streets within the Cinema and Theatre Itineraries under the URBAN projects, the base of which is connected to the rehabilitation areas containing streets with prostitution and social marginalisation. The Cohesion Funds to upgrade the urban environment of Lavapies aim at adapting this district to the new needs of its population. Interventions aim at infrastructure renovation, street design improvement, accessibility, environment upgrading, rehabilitation of housing blocks to improve the quality of life of their inhabitants, developing accesses for cultural activities, support for the arts and crafts industry and small enterprises, social programmes and economic activity improvement Total investment in the Historical Centre amounts to 52,489 million pesetas (315 million euros) up to the year 2002 .