The new Prat d’Emprivat buildings, in Andorra la Vella, will be able to rise up to twelve floors

The urban physiognomy of the central valley could undergo an important transformation in the coming years. Today the partial plan of the Prat d’Emprivatwhich occupies a large part of the island located between Meritxell avenue, Valira street, Consell d’Europa avenue and Josep Rossell street. The works will not start immediately. A partial plan, always promoted by the promoters, does not imply the start of work, but establishes the urban planning conditions for the development of the area.

And what do these rules say? The future buildings, as explained by municipality of Andorra la Vellathey can have one height of a maximum of 12 floors. Although the parish planning and urbanism plan (POUP) current, approved in 2017, allows up to 15 floors to be built, an agreement between the owners and the corporation has made it possible to reduce the maximum limit. The final height will depend on the projects presented by the promoters. “We have managed to agree with the owners on a transfer higher than that of the 2017 plan (it has gone from 15% to 28.9%) and, at the same time, incorporate in this project the guidelines of the future planning and parish urbanism plan, which is currently in the public exhibition phase”, pointed out the Consul Major, Sergi González.

“We have managed to agree with the owners a transfer superior to that of the approach of 2017”
Sergi González, Consul Major

In terms of uses, development envisages private residential buildings with ground floors intended for commercial activityas well as a “large central public space for walking and socializing”, according to the common. The proposal includes 5,431 square meters of promenade and 511 square meters of green space, in addition to the expansion of the Council of Europe and Valira streets.

511 square meters of green space in the urbanization

parking lot

In relation to the car park, the project envisages the construction of a underground public parking under the main roadwith an estimated capacity of between 100 and 120 places per floor. This infrastructure will also enable shared access to the private car parks of the future buildingsa situation that will make it possible to reduce the fords and promote the continuity of pedestrian areas. It should be taken into account that the municipality maintains the lease contract for the land currently allocated to 2029 Valira communal parking lot. Therefore, it is not expected that the processing of the partial plan will result in the immediate loss of the current 184 public places. When the action unit is developed it will also have to close the private parking of Casa Muntanyathat is, the one that is right in front of the Illa Carlemany shopping center.

29% transfer percentage negotiated with private parties

According to the commonthe increase in the cession percentage from 15% to 28.9% will make it possible to have “more surface area for walking areas, green spaces and living areas, and reinforces the open nature of future development”. The consul major he remarked, on this same point, that the agreement with the promoters “is an important step to move towards the parish model we want, with more balanced urban planning, more green spaces and more public space for people”.

How is it that the common has taken this project forward, if there is a moratorium in force since June 25, 2024 that prevents the development of new housing estates? The reason is very simple: the request for a partial plan was registered with the Commons Procedures service before that date. On the other hand, it should also be mentioned that the project has been processed in accordance with the 2017 POUP regulationssince the last revision of the POOP it was provisionally approved in September and has therefore not yet entered into force.

The minister spokesperson, Guillem Casal, he made reference to the project in the press conference after the council of ministers from yesterday afternoon. “What ends up being clearly demonstrated is that, at the bottom of the valley, in order to free up soil at the base of the buildings and not create too large islands, the constructions must be compensated with height. It is surprising that political formations that were against this model have given it continuity, both in Andorra la Vella as Escaldes-Engordany. Not far from the administrative building of the Government there are properties with similar characteristics. You can never say that I won’t drink this water”, said the president when asked about the matter by a journalist.