Santa Cruz de Tenerife to Overhaul Urban Goods Delivery to Tackle Illegal Parking

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is set to overhaul how goods are delivered across the city. The City Council has begun drafting new regulations for Urban Goods Distribution (DUM) to tackle the persistent issue of drivers illegally parking in loading and unloading zones.

A recent municipal study highlights the scale of the problem: 80% of the city’s 700 designated loading spaces are frequently occupied by private cars. Furthermore, poor planning means nearly 40% of local businesses are located more than 100 meters from a loading point. This creates significant traffic congestion, affecting more than 2,500 businesses, including restaurants, pharmacies, and food suppliers.

Led by Councilor Evelyn Alonso, the Mobility department’s plan goes beyond simply rearranging parking spaces. The city intends to introduce digital monitoring, allowing authorities to track the use of these zones in real time and enforce rules more effectively. This new framework, expected to be approved within ten months, aims to provide logistics companies with the clarity they need to plan their routes more efficiently.

The City Council is also exploring more flexible delivery hours. This includes potentially allowing unloading to begin as early as 6:00 a.m. and extending nighttime deliveries, particularly for quieter electric vehicles. These changes, which will be subject to public consultation, are part of a broader Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan designed to reduce double-parking and traffic gridlock. By relocating loading zones to better match business demand, the city hopes to transform how public space is managed and improve traffic flow for everyone.