Preparations are underway for an urban transformation of the Tres de Mayo Avenue access point, which will bring about a new look to this area following the re-parcelling of the Tomé Cano area within the La Salle district. The Local Government Board has granted permission to the Urban Planning Department to amend the existing 2005 General Urban Development Plan (PGO-U) to restructure the area known as the Cofeca block, stretching from the Local Police station building to the upper corner where the former headquarters of the BP gas station (now the cooperative) is situated.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife Mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, highlighted the importance of this change, stating that “the city has long needed this reorganization to properly and effectively manage such a crucial point, which, besides being home to thousands of residents, houses essential services and serves as a key entryway to the city.”
Urban Planning Councillor, Zaida González, disclosed that Gestur has been authorised to carry out the development works in this area with a budget of 140,000 Euros. Gestur is responsible for the future planning of this vicinity near the Refinery, and the final documentation is expected to be ready within a year. González added, “As per the technical report, the targeted area forms a significant part of the city centre that demands restructuring and alignment with the surrounding urban landscape, especially considering that a significant portion of the land is owned by the council.”
González further emphasized that “there is still a considerable amount of work ahead as we are in the initial phases of the contract process, but ultimately, the modification of the PGO-05 will harmonize this entry point to the city.”
As per the management report, “the scope of the work is limited to the technical documentation across all stages of processing the modification of the current PGOU-05, within the UA-LS.4 action unit, Tomé Cano area, La Salle area, in compliance with the Canary Islands Land and Natural Spaces Law and the Canary Islands Planning Regulations. The Special Plan that was previously under consideration will serve as the foundation for this revision.”
The works will adhere to “existing regulations and the physical conditions of the land within the modification, while also considering the content resulting from the consultation and public participation phases.”
In 2011, the High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands upheld an appeal by Comercial Ferretera and others, leading to the voiding of the Urban Planning Council’s April 2006 agreement on the area’s re-parcelling. The ruling mandated the removal of its status as unconsolidated urban land and its integration into consolidated urban land.