The entry into force of the Madrid Reside Plan has generated an intense debate, largely focused on the new regulations for the Flexible Accommodation. However, a closer reading of the regulation reveals that its scope goes far beyond that, presenting itself as a strategic tool for the reactivation and regeneration of the city.
The real value of the Reside Plan may not lie in what it restricts, but in what it enables. The regulation introduces a number of planning incentives and flexibilities which open the door to the transformation of a building stock that, in many cases, has become obsolete. This includes:
- Conversion from office to residential: The plan facilitates the conversion of vacant or underutilised office buildings into housing, offering a solution to both the vacancy of tertiary space and the shortage of residential supply.
- Rehabilitation of private facilities: It opens up the possibility of reconverting unused private facilities in affordable housing and/or coliving. This not only brings new housing supply, but also gives a second life to buildings that might otherwise fall into disrepair.
- Flexibilisation of uses: The regulations allow for greater flexibility in the combination of uses (residential, commercial, hotel) in certain areas, encouraging the creation of more dynamic neighbourhoods with a greater diversity of services.
This vision of the Reside Plan as a tool for urban regeneration is fundamental. Instead of limiting itself to a «war» against the Flexible Accommodation, The plan provides a framework for rethinking the city, adapting it to new economic and social realities. It is an opportunity to:
- Increasing the housing stock: Especially in the affordable rental segment, one of the biggest demands in the city.
- Improving sustainability: Retrofitting existing buildings is a much more sustainable strategy than new construction, reducing carbon footprint and resource consumption.
- Create a more balanced city: By encouraging a mix of uses and attracting new population to areas that were losing their residential character, the urban and commercial fabric can be revitalised.
The success of the Reside Plan will depend on the ability of all actors - administration, investors, developers and citizens - to seize these opportunities. The debate should not only focus on the restrictions to the Flexible Accommodation, The plan's focus is on how to use the tools it offers to build a more resilient and sustainable Madrid, adapted to the needs of the 21st century.
