Ordino Deputy Consul Defends Sustainable Urban Plan Amid Landowner Appeals

Ordino's deputy consul, Eduard Betriu, has defended the parish council's recently approved urban development plan (POUP), despite ongoing legal challenges from a group of landowners who plan to appeal it to the Batllia court.

In an interview marking the midpoint of the current term, Betriu argued that the revised POUP promotes balanced, sustainable growth while preserving Ordino's rural character. The plan caps potential population expansion at 12,000 residents in a worst-case scenario—far from immediate reality—and reduces building densities to curb speculation. "We've created a plan that ensures growth is balanced over the years, sustainable, and maintains what has been done in Ordino until now," he said, emphasising the separation of residential zones from agricultural and livestock areas.

Landowners' representatives have contested the plan's legality, but Betriu dismissed their claims as unlikely to succeed, citing compliance with current laws. The updates lower exploitation indices, create protected agricultural zones, and allow transferable building rights to serviced areas, limiting high-yield development on private land outside risk zones like avalanches or rockfalls. He noted flexibility remains: adjusting minimum plot sizes or building allowances could double capacity if needed, though he anticipates further reductions in coming years to stabilise development.

Ordino has not over-expanded compared to other parishes, Betriu maintained, pointing to two recent partial plans concentrated near the village and Coll d'Ordino with minimal visual or traffic impact locally. Broader mobility strains stem from commuting to Andorra's centre via La Massana, a national issue exacerbated by capacity limits even after planned bypasses. Growth must align with country-wide planning to avoid gridlock.

Betriu stressed preserving Ordino's identity as a mountain parish, biosphere reserve, ski hub, and livestock stronghold. While some primary sector families see reduced building potential on their land—from three homes to two, for instance—many support curbs on speculation to safeguard biodiversity, meadows, and grazing. In protected zones, a 1,000-square-metre plot still permits a 180-square-metre structure.

To boost local employment—where most residents commute 15 minutes to central jobs—the council promotes nature tourism via maintained trails like Ruta del Ferro and Vall de Sorteny, winter initiatives such as Cota 1.300 and Cercle Màgic, and quality dining and hotels. Sports appeal also draws residents.

Key pending investments include a €2 million project at Plana dels Camps: over 1,000 square metres of parking for cars and campervans, plus a 1,000-square-metre civic park with paths, gardens, and benches, started last week. An €800,000 upgrade to Clota Verda urbanisation—improving outdated pavements and widths—is on track to finish in two months and will link to the parking. Betriu also welcomed Saetde's entry into the ski resort's shareholding as a positive step.