Alicante considers vertical urban expansion to meet population growth

Alicante is considering a shift toward vertical urban design to accommodate projected population growth. A draft of the Structural General Plan (PGE), currently awaiting supervision by the Conselleria de Medio Ambiente, proposes removing the previous ten-story height limit for new buildings.

This strategy aims to manage a projected increase of over 100,000 residents, with the city's population expected to reach approximately 466,340 by 2050. By building upward rather than expanding horizontally, the plan seeks to preserve land for public uses, such as green spaces, wider roads for better ventilation, and improved public transport infrastructure, including potential tram lines or dedicated bus lanes.

The plan anticipates the need for more than 44,886 new homes, comprising both private market and public protection housing. The model focuses on a polycentric approach, prioritizing the regeneration of established neighborhoods and the development of pending sectors like Pino and Ruaya, without reclassifying land outside of current regulations.