Orihuela Moves Forward with Massive 2.2 Million Square Metre Business Park

The Orihuela Town Council is set to advance plans for a massive 2.2 million square metre business park, focusing on agri-food industries, renewable energy, and logistics, situated along the A-7 motorway. The proposal will be discussed at the council's regular plenary meeting on October 29th. The land, currently used for citrus farming, would be reclassified for industrial and commercial purposes.

Councillor Matías Ruiz mentioned that after approval, the project would enter a 45-day public consultation period for residents, businesses, and organizations to provide input. Technical reports from various administrations and utility providers are required to support the development. The environmental assessment includes assessments of flood risks, traffic implications, and fire prevention, along with consultations with infrastructure and essential service authorities.

Once the consultation period concludes and the necessary reports are gathered, a final version of the plan will be prepared and submitted to the Valencian regional authorities for environmental assessment. A Strategic Environmental Declaration will be necessary before the project can progress to subsequent planning stages. The initiative has a lengthy history, beginning with revisions to Orihuela's general urban development plan in 2013, which later restarted in 2020 with a new preliminary plan and environmental documentation.

A significant milestone was reached in November 2022 with the issuance of the environmental scoping document. Approval on Thursday would be another important planning milestone, although it would not be the final authorization for construction.