Leganés City Council has signed an agreement with MWCC and Fundación Metrópoli to develop a protocol for the innovation and design of the City of Leganés project. The City Council points out that, "the objective is to develop a sustainable design for the city in all areas: mobility, infrastructure, building and energy consumption". To this end, the social, cultural, educational, sporting, neighbourhood and business entities of the municipality will be convened to reach a consensus on the strengths on which the Leganés of the future should be built, advised by the experience of Metrópoli.
This agreement aims to promote territorial innovation and find answers aimed at achieving a balance between economic and social development, quality of life, territorial culture and environmental sustainability in Leganés.
"An exercise in collective reflection with all the entities".
Miguel Ángel Recuenco has described this project as "exciting", which he has defined as "an exercise in collective reflection, with the participation of the social, sporting, cultural, educational, neighbourhood and business entities of the city who, guided by those who have experience in carrying out this type of project, Fundación Metrópoli, with accredited experience for example in the municipality of Málaga, will allow us to set the course towards the coordinates that will mark what we want to be tomorrow in Leganés, starting from what we are today".
"Project Cities" in cities such as Zurich, Copenhagen, Malaga...
Fundación Metrópoli works on the basis of the methodology and experience of "Proyecto Cities", which has been developed in more than 50 cities around the world, such as Zurich, Copenhagen, Malaga, Bilbao, Elche or Tres Cantos. Metrópoli is also working with the Community of Madrid on the "Innovation Laboratory" project in the field of Urban Solutions in Madrid Nuevo Norte, a plan to establish public-private cooperation channels and carry out actions to improve the competitiveness and urban development of this area.
"Joining forces and agreeing on a shared project".
The President of Fundación Metrópoli, Alfonso Vegara, explained that the aim is to "join forces and carry out a broad participatory process in which to highlight the singularities of Leganés, its idiosyncrasies, the comparative advantages it has with respect to its surroundings, and to reach a consensus on a vision of the future where the public sector, the private sector and civil society participate, so that a shared project is agreed, which is the fundamental idea".
Alfonso Vegara explained that Metrópoli will put its knowledge, experience and technology at the service of Leganés City Council to generate a city project: "Internationally, and even here in Spain, there is a very big difference between cities that have a project and know where they are going, and others that may have their general plan, but have not defined the economic profile of the future, nor what role cultural institutions are going to play... Cities with a clear idea of how they want to transform themselves are much easier for the future. It is much easier for them to attract initiatives, talent and investment in the future in order to make this transformation project a reality.
"Achieving an integrated community
The President of Fundación Metrópoli has stressed that "it is very important to analyse and know the real possibilities and aspirations of the city in terms of the advantages it has: in educational institutions, in connectivity, in new technologies...".
"We have done this in many cities around the world by applying participatory methodologies and the truth is that when there is a confluence between the public sector, the private sector and civil society, cities take off. And many of the great objectives can be achieved in terms of economic competitiveness, to generate employment, in terms of environmental sustainability and social integration, so that it is an integrated community where one can live, work, have fun and learn, within a quality environment, " Vegara argued.
International networks and European funds
In order to carry out this project, a series of strategic lines will be worked on, such as, for example, attracting international cooperation networks, both institutional, research and business networks, leaders in the private sector, looking for possible sources of foreign investment and partners with the capacity to implement new projects in the interest of Leganés. We will also work on obtaining European Funds prioritising a low-emission economy, digitalisation and innovation, territorial balance and social integration. All this linked to urban transformation initiatives to achieve a more sustainable, liveable and competitive city.
Official presentation in mid-September
In mid-September, Leganés City Council, MWCC and Fundación Metrópoli will make an official presentation of this project with the collaboration of the social, cultural, educational, sports, neighbourhood and business entities of Leganés that can provide solutions committed to the future of the city.