La Laguna Launches Major Five-Year Plan to Protect UNESCO World Heritage Site
La Laguna has awarded nearly 600,000 euros in contracts to implement a comprehensive five-year management plan designed to modernize the protection and urban development of its UNESCO World Heritage historic center.
La Laguna is set to overhaul how it protects its architectural heritage. The City Council has officially awarded contracts to implement a new Historic City Management Plan, fulfilling UNESCO requirements to safeguard the old town, which was named a World Heritage Site 25 years ago.
The project, backed by a public investment of 597,490 euros, is a comprehensive five-year strategy that goes beyond simple building repairs. It replaces the current, limited protection plan with a more technical, thorough approach to managing the city—a unique example of urban planning without fortifications since its founding in 1496.
The council has divided the work into four specialized areas:
- Strategic and Operational Planning: CF Arquitectura, Paisaje y Urbanismo and the Fundación Ecológica Urbana y Territorial (133,500 euros) will set protection guidelines for the historic center and its surrounding areas.
- Mobility and Public Space: Colin Buchanan Consultores (218,102 euros) will design a sustainable transport model and organize public spaces.
- Lighting: Intervento 2 (135,646 euros) will develop a lighting system that ensures public safety while respecting the city’s historic character.
- Public Participation: Urbanfix (108,241 euros) will manage communication to ensure residents are involved in how the city is governed.
For the local government, led by Mayor Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, this is the most significant management step since the city gained international recognition. Adolfo Cordobés, the Councilor for Land Use Planning and Cultural Heritage, noted that the city is moving from a static approach to dynamic management, allowing it to adapt to the needs of a changing society.
Public consultations are scheduled to begin in late April. The plan aims to address everyday issues like waste management, local business activity, street furniture, and grants for property conservation. Ultimately, this project will provide the technical foundation for a future update to the city’s Special Protection Plan, cementing La Laguna’s status as a leader in managing living historic cities.