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6 Housing - Integral rehabilitation plan – Old Town of Ponferrada (Spain)
Size of investment: USD 4.2 million
Start date: 2004
End date: 2009
Project stage: maintenance
Project partners
• Public partners:
o Municipality of Ponferrada
o Regional Government
o Central Government
• Private partners: Private homeowners and developers
• Other partners: Neighbouring associations
Project description
The regional government approved the guidelines of the “Special Plan for the Protection of the
Old Town” or “Plan Especial de Protección del Casco Antiguo” (PECA), which had a main objective
of restoring the old town of Ponferrada and renewing the area’s urbanization. The city experiences
heavy rain and significant temperature changes between summer and winter, causing the centuries-
old buildings to decay over time. Despite the historical location at the heart of the old city, the
buildings and houses in the old town of Ponferrada were deserted by their owners and neglected
for decades. Structural elements such as rooftops and facades were collapsing with the time and
weather. Sewage and base isolation systems also required updating.
The old town was experiencing a population decline and ageing so steps had to be taken to
reverse the trends because of its strategic location and potential as a historical heritage centre. The
plan outlined steps for the city council to boost recovery of the traditional urban environment by
renovating existing commercial premises and repairing dilapidated buildings. The project aimed to
reconstruct existing buildings to keep the structures from collapsing, while also rebuilding buildings
that had already fallen. The aim was to reconstruct and renovate the city centre in its original style
and with as much original material as possible to maintain its historical character.
Today’s old town of Ponferrada is a renewed city centre, yet historical. It showcases an upgraded
look that combines old buildings with new technologies that allow for efficient living, working,
24 Compendium of practices on innovative financing for SSC projects | January 2023
