The Seda-Papelera urban development plan, promoted by Metrovacesa, winner of the ASPRIMA-SIMA 2025 Award as an innovative and sustainable benchmark.

• Developed in El Prat de Llobregat (Barcelona), it sustainably transforms the former industrial land of the La Seda and La Papelera factories into an urban model focused on ecological transition, social cohesion and innovation.

• Metrovacesa is once again participating in SIMA, a benchmark real estate event that closes its 26th edition tomorrow with more than 20,000 visitors and where outstanding initiatives in the sector are recognised.

Madrid, 23 May 2025. The Seda-Papelera urban plan has been recognised at the ASPRIMA-SIMA 2025 Awards in the category of ‘Best Urban Development’. This pioneering development transforms former industrial land in Prat de Llobregat into a sustainable, inclusive and connected neighbourhood model, consolidating its position as a European benchmark in urban regeneration. Metrovacesa, Spain’s leading real estate developer with more than 100 years of experience and more than 115 projects under development nationwide, is promoting this project together with the Prat City Council and other stakeholders.

For Miguel Díaz Batanero, Metrovacesa’s Director of Land and President of the Seda-Papelera Owners’ Association, “this award highlights the high technical and urban planning level of a project that aspires to be a benchmark in European regenerative urban planning and an example of sustainable urban development. Seda-Papelera transforms an old urban space into a new urban model focused on ecological transition, social cohesion and innovation”.

Located at a strategic point in the Barcelona metropolitan area, the Seda-Papelera area comprises 41.9 hectares of disused industrial land that will give rise to a new neighbourhood with more than 5,700 homes, of which more than 40 % will be subsidised housing and 20 % will be for affordable public rental. This action responds to the structural housing deficit in the region, guaranteeing access in a highly stressed market.

The project has been promoted through an exemplary model of public-private collaboration, demonstrating that it is possible to combine public and private interests for the benefit of all citizens.

The mayoress of El Prat de Llobregat, Alba Bou, says: “The area of Seda-Papelera was, in the twenties of the twentieth century, a key space where the Prat of today, the working city that we are, was defined. One hundred years later, it is in this same area where we define how we want the Prat of the future to be: a city to be inspired by as a metropolitan area and a benchmark in matters such as sustainability, social cohesion and guaranteeing the right to housing. This award is a first class recognition of the good work done to turn Seda-Paperera into a quality space where the families of El Prat find a place to live and develop their life project to the full”.

A city model for people and planet

Seda-Papelera is committed to regenerative urban planning that combines innovation, sustainability and social cohesion. Its design is based on pedestrian ‘superblocks’ and a central green spine that prioritises sustainable mobility and public transport, connecting the neighbourhood with the metropolitan area and stations such as Renfe and metro (L9).

The project incorporates green roofs and façades, water reuse systems, low-impact materials and a 1 km photovoltaic pergola on Gran Vía that will generate energy for local self-consumption, achieving a near-zero energy balance. In addition, work is underway to ensure that the project complies with BREEAM Urbanism certification, which accredits comprehensive environmental sustainability.

The development is completed with 31,900 m² of public facilities (educational, health, cultural and sports) and four commercial areas aimed at boosting the local economy and promoting local employment.

Metrovacesa at SIMA real estate event

Metrovacesa is participating in the 26th edition of the Madrid International Real Estate Exhibition (SIMA), which is being held this week from 21 to 24 May at IFEMA and this year will exceed 20,000 visitors, breaking attendance records. This event, a benchmark in the Spanish real estate sector, focuses its 2025 edition on the future of the residential market and the ‘Living’ segment, highlighting the transformation driven by sustainability, digitalisation and new housing models.

In this context, Metrovacesa presents some of its most emblematic projects. Of particular note is the presentation of Los Cerros, the largest development in the southeast of the Community of Madrid, which will be launched commercially in 2025. With 1.7 million square metres of green areas, Los Cerros will exceed the dimensions of the Retiro Park, integrating architecture and nature to offer a unique environment in which to live. The project will integrate 14,276 homes, 50% of which will be social housing, helping to unlock and facilitate access to housing in the city.

In addition, the company is strengthening its commitment to the Living segment with Oria Innovation Campus in Madrid, developed in collaboration with Vita Group. This ambitious project, with an investment of more than 300 million euros, will include more than 1,100 units of flex living and student residences, along with coworking spaces and common areas, with deliveries scheduled between 2026 and 2027.

Last year 2024, Metrovacesa delivered close to 2,000 homes, with revenue growth of 17.0%, and as of March 2025 it has a pre-sales portfolio of 3,471 units, representing 8% growth compared to the end of 2024.

During the event, Jorge Pérez de Leza, CEO of Metrovacesa, participated in the forum ‘The environment for international investment in Living’, highlighting that “the Spanish market is experiencing a key moment for investors. There are investment opportunities in direct promotion, through Joint Venture, or well-managed listed companies. In addition, the sector offers very diverse formats, from traditional housing to living and flexible use models that respond to new ways of living.

For her part, Carmen Chicharro, Commercial, Marketing and Innovation Director at Metrovacesa, stressed the importance of technology in the customer experience, emphasising the digital tools that improve the buying process and the relationship with the user: “With AI agents we accompany the customer, improving their experience and making the processes more personalised and at their convenience, through any channel and 24×7. Even so, the human touch will continue to be key in the home-buying process”.