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Águilas is set to tackle its chronic parking shortage with the construction of a new high-rise parking lot on municipal land next to the fairgrounds on Calle Juan Pablo II.

 

The planned facility will provide more than 350 spaces, although the exact number will be confirmed once technical work on the final project is completed. The site is already used unofficially by locals as a parking area and the council intends to transform it into a vertical and compact garage with two floors.

 

As part of the town’s application for more than €6 million in EU funding, this project has been included in the local government’s wider programme of mobility and sustainability improvements. It aligns with Águilas’s Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan and its Climate and Sustainable Energy Action Plan.

 

The new car park will use modular, industrialised building methods that allow for what municipal technicians describe as “agile, precise and sustainable” construction. Durable, low-maintenance materials are planned throughout, designed to withstand both climate and urban wear and tear.

 

The structure will also incorporate eco-friendly and accessible features, including natural cross-ventilation, slatted facades to reduce solar impact, pergolas, vegetated rooftops and surrounding green areas. Signage and adapted routes will ensure inclusive use for all visitors.

 

In addition to standard parking, the building is expected to house complementary services such as a bicycle area, electric vehicle charging stations and small commercial and administrative spaces.

 

“This project aims to increase parking capacity in Águilas and, at the same time, contribute to improving urban mobility, universal accessibility and the environmental sustainability of the surrounding area,” said the Town council.

 

“We are fully aware that the lack of parking is a recurring problem that worsens in the summer, when the population of Águilas increases significantly,” added Councillor for Economic Development and Mobility José Manuel Gálvez.

 

The council is also exploring simpler ways to expand parking availability in the town centre. One of these measures involves converting privately owned land into public parking spaces.

 

“We want to move forward with the transformation of private lots into public parking areas,” said Mr Gálvez.

The council has already implemented this strategy in Plaza Juan XXIII, where a small plot has been turned into a free-to-use car park with a dozen spaces.

 

“We are negotiating with new owners to use more land and expand the parking offer in the town centre,” he explained.

 

This approach involves the Council signing agreements with landowners. In exchange for allowing public use of their property, the council assumes responsibility for maintenance tasks like cleaning and clearing.

 

“The goal is to take advantage of existing spaces without having to carry out major, costly construction work,” Mr Gálvez concluded.

 

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Image: Ayuntamiento de Águilas