The Bilbao City Council has begun fieldwork for the drafting of the Special Plan for the Protection of Urban and Archaeological Heritage. KREAN is carrying out this work, with the specialised assistance of Ondare Babesa (archaeological services company) and Ikusmira (historical research services company), which constitute the operational starting point of the contract for the preparation and processing of the Special Plan, in line with the provisions of the Bilbao 2022 PGOU (General Urban Development Plan).
The aim of this fieldwork is to advance the knowledge and analysis of the city's rich heritage. This first phase includes a citizen participation programme, with information, consultation and feedback activities throughout the process. At the same time, technical consultation sessions will be held with renowned heritage groups and professionals from the city and with the Culture departments of the Basque Government and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia.
The Special Plan is conceived as a regulatory instrument aimed at strengthening the protection, management and enhancement of the city's urban and archaeological heritage, which currently includes more than 1,200 protected buildings, as well as urban complexes, unique elements and archaeological protection areas. Its scope covers the entire municipal area, with the exception of Casco Viejo and Bilbao La Vieja, which are already regulated by specific plans, and incorporates, as a new feature, an analysis of architecture post-1970, which had not been considered in previous general plans.
Specifically, the work places special emphasis on Bilbao's Ensanche district, both because of the concentration of unique buildings and because of the environmental, landscape and structural value of its urban fabric. The Plan proposes a comprehensive reflection on the protection of this area, paying attention to configurative elements such as chamfers, urban layouts and public spaces, and establishing planning criteria for buildings that are not individually protected. As a result, a dynamic database will be generated to facilitate the monitoring, maintenance and updating of heritage by municipal technical services.
