Seville City Council backs the 10-million-square-metre Santa Bárbara Aerospace District

Seville City Council has given the green light to the development of the new Aerospace Urban District in Santa Bárbara, a 10-million-square-metre urban operation that will combine productive, residential and commercial uses around San Pablo airport. The initiative, originally conceived by EDDEA, represents a strategic commitment to aeronautical specialisation and the diversification of the metropolitan economy.

Located on the Sector 5 land in Santa Bárbara, the future district will capitalise on its strategic position next to San Pablo airport, Airbus and the Aerópolis Aerospace Technology Park to become a driving force in line with leading European examples such as Toulouse, Eindhoven and Bremen. The proposal provides for up to 24,000 homes and 3.2 million square metres of productive floor space, guided by criteria of territorial integration and metropolitan connectivity.

José María de Cárdenas, founding partner of EDDEA and author of the original proposal, explains that “the proposal grows out of an urban and economic reading of Seville that identifies the eastern axis as the natural space for the city’s growth and for its link with strategic sectors such as aerospace. It is an opportunity to create city, industry and affordable housing from a logic of sustainability and productive specialisation.”

As a distinguishing feature, the district will initially draw on more than 800,000 square metres of industrial and logistics land, whose activation will unlock the urban development of Santa Bárbara, Torreblanca Norte and San Nicolás. This first phase lays the foundations for an operation that will transform the territorial structure of the Seville metropolitan area.

The proposed urban design is organised around multimodal connectivity, with the SE-35, the future tram and Metro Line 2 as its backbone. The street network will integrate green corridors and public facilities, creating an urban model that responds to the demands of the post-Covid city and the new sustainable urban agendas.

Its immediate proximity to Andalusia’s aerospace ecosystem also makes the operation a catalyst for attracting technology companies and research centres. The proposal already has the backing of major players in the real estate sector, who have expressed interest in taking part in the development of this new metropolitan hub.

The initiative forms part of the city’s strategy for economic diversification and territorial cohesion, harnessing the synergies between the aeronautical sector, airport logistics and new residential developments. The timetable envisages the first works starting during 2025, with a medium- to long-term development horizon extending over the next decade.

EDDEA continues to carry out complementary studies on territorial structure and urban implementation models, supporting public administrations and investors in shaping this new economic engine for Seville. Based in Seville and with an international presence, the studio has consolidated its specialism in large-scale urban operations and strategic territorial planning.