Investments in the revitalisation of the ‘Opengela neighbourhoods’ move forward
Neighbourhoods in the Basque Country that are undergoing urban regeneration through the Opengela model (including a neighbourhood office) can already see how investments and works are making progress in their buildings.
In Alava, for example, Amurrio City Council has approved grants for the refurbishment of buildings in the Goikolarra neighbourhood and is making progress in the transfer of public land for the construction of social housing with the aim of promoting social inclusion and sustainability.
In Biscay, Bilbao City Council will undertake the second phase of the works for the comprehensive improvement of the area around Txotena Street in the neighbourhood of Otxarkoaga. The works, which will be carried out in two phases to minimise the impact on the public, will take six months to complete.
The main objective of the project is to replant the entire area. To this end, the existing green areas will be improved and new planters will be created to increase the natural surface area. These new planters will also serve to separate passers-by from the façades, preserving the continuity of the public space and improving the recreational areas near the houses.
In Gipuzkoa, the comprehensive refurbishment work on the Sigma residential buildings of the Olasogain Berritzen programme in Elgoibar began in September and is expected to be completed in October 2025. Olasogain Opengela, located in the former SIGMA schools, is managed by Degebesa, thanks to the collaboration agreement signed with the City Council.