The local government of La Laguna is currently working on the specifications to commence the bidding process for the development of the new General Planning Plan (PGO) of the municipality. This update was confirmed by the Councilor for Territorial Planning and head of the Urban Planning Management of La Laguna, Adolfo Cordobés. He stated that the council is in the process of preparing the required documentation (list of technical specifications and administrative clauses) necessary for launching the bidding process for the new PGO development.
It should be noted that the municipal assembly approved the withdrawal of the processing procedure for the previous PGO in December of last year, which was initiated in 2009. Initial approvals were granted in 2013 and 2014, prior to the enactment of the new Canary Islands Land Law in 2017. This legislation mandated a restart of the process, a decision that the local government ultimately adopted.
Regarding the timeline for the bidding process for the new planning development, Adolfo Cordobés mentioned that “it is premature to set exact dates, as we must comply with the general EU regulations on public procurement and publish the call in the Official Journal of the European Union.” However, he announced that “the goal is to issue the tender as soon as possible and to award the contract for the development of the new PGO at the beginning of 2025.”
La Laguna Mayor, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, expressed that “we aim to create a document that garners maximum social consensus, unlike the PGO that was initially proposed in 2008. Our focus is on establishing a development model centred on sustainability, respect for the territory, and addressing the genuine growth needs of La Laguna, considering the unique dual urban and rural characteristics of the municipality.”
Councilor Adolfo Cordobés emphasised that “we acknowledged in La Laguna that the previous PGO project was inadequate to tackle the new challenges facing our society, and that there was a need for a unifying and mutually agreed-upon tool that clearly defines the municipal model we aspire to for the decades to come. We understand that this is a slow and complex process, but we are committed to ensuring that all perspectives are heard and consensus is achieved.”
To advance these objectives, Cordobés also highlighted that “over the course of this first year in office, we have been actively working on formulating the Sustainable Development Model and Action Plan for La Laguna. This document has undergone various stages of citizen engagement and will provide us with a robust, comprehensive analysis of the local reality and its future challenges in preparation for the PGO development.”
“This forthcoming document will play a crucial role in shaping the new PGO and will facilitate a collaborative and participatory approach towards creating a more sustainable La Laguna with enhanced social cohesion,” he added.
According to information from the Urban Planning Management, the development of the future PGO, aligned with current regulations such as Law 4/2017 of July 13 on Land and Protected Natural Spaces of the Canary Islands, and Law 21/2013 of December 9 on Environmental Assessment, will progress through the following phases, each with respective deadlines for public consultation and engagement with other authorities: Draft Plan and initial strategic document, Plan Progress and strategic environmental evaluation, Initial Plan version and possible modification of the strategic environmental evaluation, Final Plan Proposal and Final approval.
Additionally, a preliminary public consultation will be conducted to gather feedback from citizens and potentially affected representative organisations on the issues to be addressed, the necessity and timeliness of regulation, the objectives to be pursued, and potential alternative solutions.
Counterarguments
It was also mentioned that the objections raised during the initial approval process in 2014, related to the 2009 procedure, and the suggestions put forth by citizen groups will be taken into consideration. This ensures that the prior contributions from various groups and individuals will not be disregarded. Furthermore, to the extent possible, the planning work previously conducted by the Municipal Urban Planning Management and all available information will be considered.
Regarding the historic centre, specific consideration will be given to its planning designation, the Special Protection Plan, which is set for an imminent update, as is the case with the Anaga Rural Park.
The current PGO dates back to 2004, which is essentially an adaptation of the 2000 PGO to the Territorial Planning Laws of the Canary Islands. Additional updates or regional regulations and various supplementary tools, such as partial plans, special plans, or detailed studies, have been incorporated. The municipal assembly of La Laguna approved the withdrawal of this 2009-initiated PGO procedure last December, paving the way for the commencement of a new planning process.
The municipality of La Laguna presents several important considerations, including hosting major infrastructures with island-wide reach, such as the University of La Laguna, one of the island’s airports, the Canary Islands University Hospital, and several key military installations. Additionally, La Laguna is recognised as an agrarian municipality situated at the communicative core of the island, encompassing coastal and tourist areas with a portion of its land falling within the Anaga Rural Park, a Biosphere Reserve. Noteworthy is its status as a World Heritage City, featuring distinct population centres with unique characteristics.
