One of the capital's most emblematic projects that will transform its northern area in an innovative and sustainable way | View the Program Summary in PDF
Madrid Nuevo Norte is one of the most significant projects in the Spanish capital, as highlighted to the Leaders during their visit to Invest in Madrid. It is the largest urban regeneration project in Europe, whose main goal is to transform the north of Madrid into a new model of a more sustainable, connected, and innovative city.
The Leaders visited the project’s headquarters, located in the iconic KIO Towers in the capital, from which part of the vast development can be seen. There, they were welcomed by Luis Martín de Ciria, Director of Communication, International Relations and Social Engagement at Crea Madrid Nuevo Norte, and by Alberto Manzano, Content Manager. Both explained to the Leaders the details of an initiative that will completely transform the northern area of the city.
The Madrid Nuevo Norte project will cover a strip of land 5.6 kilometers long and up to one kilometer wide, stretching northward from Plaza de Castilla to the M-40 ring road. Its main objective is to expand and modernize Chamartín Station and to bury the railway tracks that currently create a scar dividing the city and separating entire neighborhoods.
This initiative will regenerate more than 2.3 million square meters of land, which will be allocated to different uses depending on the area of development. However, most of the land—76%—will be devoted to public use for the construction of roads, parks, and facilities such as schools and health centers, while only 24% will be dedicated to housing, offices, and retail spaces. Thus, the northern zone will be primarily residential, with 8,000 of the 10,500 planned homes to be built there.
Following the redevelopment of Chamartín Station, the project will promote an innovative public transport model integrating commuter trains, metro, urban and interurban buses, and a new rapid bus transit system. The Madrid Nuevo Norte plan foresees that 95% of homes and offices will be within a ten-minute walk of a metro or commuter train station, making public transport the preferred option. The project also includes the construction of the Torre Madrid Norte, which will become the tallest skyscraper in Europe, standing 330 meters high.
Another key objective of this initiative is to definitively overcome the isolation of neighborhoods historically divided by the railway tracks. To achieve this, the tracks will be covered over a 200,000-square-meter section. In addition, five new bridges, a tunnel, and a pedestrian walkway will be built to connect areas of the city that have long been separated by the physical barrier of the tracks. Above them, the Central Park will be developed, along with a large green arc that will complete the Prado–Recoletos–Castellana axis and connect the city with the natural area of El Pardo. In total, 400,000 square meters of green spaces will be created.
The project also pays special attention to optimizing water use as part of its strong commitment to sustainability. For this reason, 13 kilometers of Canal de Isabel II pipelines will be renovated, the use of reclaimed water will be increased, and the natural rainwater cycle will be restored through the use of permeable pavements.
With its green spaces, housing, commercial areas, and offices, Madrid Nuevo Norte is set to become a major hub for attracting international talent.
Meeting Attendees:
Luis Martín de Ciria, Director of Communication, International Relations and Social Engagement at Crea Madrid Nuevo Norte
Alberto Manzano, Content Manager at Crea Madrid Nuevo Norte
María del Rocío Picón Rodríguez, Deputy Director General for Cities and Countries at Madrid City Council
María Victoria Rodríguez Román, Secretary General of the Spain–Australia Council Foundation
