Madrid’s regional government refuses to provide Edificio España with protection

MADRID’S regional government is refusing for the third time to provide Edificio España with more protection.

In 2017, Madrid city hall approved modifications to planning laws that would give the emblematic building the type of protection provided in 1997 but modified in January 2015.

This permitted more commercial activity than planning laws allowed but reduced its level of protection by not ruling out the eventual demolition of the building, apart from the main façade and part of the sides.

City Hall pointed out that this would alter the building’s original aspect while entailing the “enormous” technical problem of stabilising the 117-metre high façade.

The regional government turned down two applications during Manuela Carmena’s term as city mayor and sources at Madrid Community’s Environment and Territorial Planning department revealed that the third would be rejected.

Madrid’s new mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida must now decide whether the city hall should continue the fight that began by his predecessor or leave the building which was completed in 1953 and listed as an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC) meaning it is vulnerable to future development.