The Alcoi Sud Business Park project, intended for development in the La Canal area towards Ibi, has been discarded by the municipal government. This decision is based on two reports from the Ministry of Environment that prevent the rezoning of two-thirds of the planned land, making industrial development in this area unviable. Consequently, the available industrial land for Alcoy's future is restricted to the 700,000 square meters outlined in the new Structural General Plan, which is still in its processing stages.
This planned land will be distributed with approximately 270,000 square meters in the Pagos area, near the highway, and the remaining 430,000 as an expansion of the Santiago Payá-Sant Benet industrial zones, located near the southern part of the urban center. Additionally, the document allocates about 200,000 square meters for tertiary use, situated at the access from Rebolcat and Viaducte, as well as in the lower section of the Francisco Laporta sports center.
Mayor Toni Francés highlighted that the Structural General Plan has favorable reports for these 700,000 square meters of industrial land, which could begin development once the planning is definitively approved. Regarding the Pagos area, questioned for its stability, the mayor assured that conducted geotechnical studies confirm it as the most stable zone in Alcoy, a city that suffers from significant ground instability. The current Santiago Payá-Sant Benet areas have already experienced repeated landslides, including the rupture of the access road, which is currently being resolved.
Despite the creation of new industrial land, a challenge is anticipated: the inability to meet the demand for large plots, such as those of 50,000 or 100,000 square meters. This was precisely one of the arguments for promoting the now-discarded Alcoi Sud Business Park. Toni Francés indicated that the challenge will be to seek formulas for jointly managed industrial land at the regional level to respond to companies needing larger spaces, an initiative he has previously attempted without success.
Compromís emphasizes the need to focus public efforts and resources on real industry, moving past La Canal. The party highlights investments made during the term in existing industrial estates and the unblocking of projects like the new access to Santiago Payá. Deputy Mayor Àlex Cerradelo announced an upcoming meeting with Compromís representatives from l'Alcoià and El Comtat to work on viable solutions for regional industrial land, advocating for the 700,000 square meters planned in Alcoy and inter-municipal collaboration.
