Real Madrid Valdebebas site undergoes major urban rezoning

The Madrid City Council has provisionally approved a zoning modification for Real Madrid’s sports complex in Valdebebas. This reclassification, part of the Madrid Innovation District project, expands the maximum buildable area from 360,000 to 532,550 square meters.

The new regulations allow the club to combine sports facilities with private equipment and tertiary services. This includes the potential construction of offices for technology multinationals, research centers, universities, hotels, shops, and an auditorium. The only explicit prohibition is the construction of a large commercial center.

The move has drawn criticism from political groups Más Madrid and the PSOE, who have characterized the operation as “urbanismo a la carta” (tailor-made urbanism). Critics argue the modification disproportionately benefits Real Madrid and question whether the project serves the general interest of the city compared to the need for public infrastructure like schools and health centers.