220 hectares for business: Orihuela advances plans for a new business park

The 2.2-million-square-metre project will focus on agri-food industries, renewable energy and logistics. The estimated investment is €65 million.

On 29 October, Orihuela City Council’s plenary session will consider the initial approval of the plan for the future Business Park for Agri-food Industry, Renewable Energy and Logistics. Covering approximately 220 hectares, the site lies north of the town centre, near the road to La Matanza and the A-7 motorway. The land is currently used mainly for citrus cultivation.

Under the municipal proposal, more than 1.1 million square metres will be allocated to industrial plots, around 200,000 square metres to commercial and service activities, over 109,000 square metres to public facilities, and more than 435,000 square metres to green areas.

The estimated investment required to develop the park is €65 million, while projected revenues are approximately €182 million. The council aims to attract businesses in agri-food production, renewable energy and logistics. Under the most favourable development scenarios, the project has previously been associated with the potential to generate up to 10,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs. This is a forecast, not a guaranteed outcome.

If the documentation receives initial approval, a 45-day public consultation period will begin. At the same time, 28 sector-specific reports will be requested from public authorities and companies responsible for infrastructure and utilities. The documentation will then be completed and submitted to the competent authorities of the Valencian regional government for further environmental and territorial assessment.

The planning documents address flood risk, traffic, fire prevention and infrastructure requirements. Initial approval would not authorise construction to begin: the project must still pass through further planning and environmental procedures.

Planning work began in 2013, but the previous procedure expired in 2018. In 2020, the council resumed work on the project. The current consideration represents another step towards preparing the land for potential industrial and business development.

Official sources: Orihuela City Council — business park plan and plenary consideration; project parameters and investment estimates.