Andorra la Vella POUP Protects Central Park as Permanent Public Green Space

Andorra la Vella's Parish Planning and Urban Development Plan (POUP) fully protects Central Park's green area, designating its 18,000 square metres as permanent public space while paving the way for public ownership once a detailed partial plan is implemented.

The approved plan, set for public consultation later this month, ensures the park remains intact as the parish's primary green lung amid urban expansion pressures. Comú leader Sergi González emphasized its safeguarding as a core goal, noting it serves as a key reference point for the entire country. "From the start, we knew Andorra la Vella could not afford to lose Central Park," he said.

The site remains privately owned for now, with the comú paying roughly €1.5 million annually in rent—a cost that will end upon transfer to public hands. González underscored the focus on long-term security: "The key is ensuring Central Park stays a green public space for future generations, even if the changes take time to materialize."

While the green zone is secure, the adjacent parking area with over 600 spaces faces redevelopment into buildable land. This lot, vital due to the parish's daily influx of 60,000 to 80,000 visitors and the loss of temporary parking from urban shifts, hosts the October fair each year in the absence of a dedicated venue or Espai Capital. Councilor for Traffic and Parking Xavier Surana is developing a strategic parking plan, as private initiatives—like an 800-space lot on the border with Escaldes-Engordany charging higher fees—help offset current shortages. A potential Espai Capital site near the government building, on former bullring land, could further reduce parking there.

The POUP advances broader objectives of limiting growth, easing building pressures, and strengthening public areas for sustainability.