The Málaga City Council has begun the 'Conecta_Málaga' plan, a €30M urban regeneration financed by EU Feder funds. It includes 18 actions in neighborhoods like Cruz del Humilladero and Las Flores.
The local government board has approved the start of bidding for two new urban renewal projects in Las Flores and García Grana, with a combined investment of €1.66 million. These are the first concrete steps of the ambitious 'Conecta_Málaga' strategy, which aims to transform several districts of the city by 2030.
Málaga City Council launched the execution phase of 'Conecta_Málaga', an integrated regeneration and urban dynamization plan that covers areas in Centro-Norte, Cruz del Humilladero, and the Las Flores neighborhood (Ciudad Jardín). The plan is part of the Integrated Action Plans for Local Entities (EDIL) financed by the European Regional Development Fund (Feder) through the Pluriregional Program of Spain 2021-2027. In October 2025, the council secured a Feder grant of €11.95 million, the maximum amount awarded for large Andalusian cities.
The overall investment for 'Conecta_Málaga' is set at €30 million, with €16 million from municipal coffers and the rest from European funds. This represents a significant municipal commitment, raising the city's contribution to 60% and aiming to maximize the use of European resources through over-execution. The initiative is promoted by the Area of Economy, Finance and EU Funds Management, in coordination with other municipal areas.
The two newly approved projects include urban regeneration in Las Flores, budgeted at €1.22 million, and the improvement of social infrastructure in García Grana, with €434,061. Both have already been allocated funds for this fiscal year. These are part of a broader set of 18 actions planned under the strategy, which also targets neighborhoods such as Cruz de Humilladero-La Unión, Santa Marta, Santa Julia, Los Palomares (in Cruz del Humilladero district), and Capuchinos, El Molinillo, La Merced, La Goleta, Lagunillas-Cruz Verde, San Felipe Neri, El Ejido, and La Victoria (in the northern part of the Centro district).
The plan is structured around four common blocks: digital and economic dynamization, energy and environment, social inclusion, and urban renewal. The first block includes the implementation of a virtual citizen network under the II Open Government Plan, aimed at strengthening neighborhood participation and reducing the digital divide. It also promotes local commerce through a program for aesthetic renovation and modernization, with personalized advice on space organization, corporate image, marketing, and customer acquisition. These actions will focus on commercial areas around Market of Salamanca, Antonio Martelo-Alfambra axis, Cruz del Humilladero, Las Flores, Olletas, and Capuchinos.
Digital transformation solutions are also included, such as a youth participation app developed by the Youth Area, which integrates digital tools for citizen engagement. The second block, energy and environment, involves installing more proximity recycling points, renovating water supply and sanitation networks in Las Flores, and rehabilitating the old university pavilions in El Ejido into the headquarters of the Málaga Philharmonic Orchestra (the third and final phase recently awarded). The third block, social inclusion, features projects like 'Embárriate', which aims to improve the quality of life and social participation of young people in various neighborhoods.
'Conecta_Málaga' is a key tool for promoting a more cohesive, sustainable, and inclusive city model, integrating European funds with local investment to maximize impact.
In comparison to previous urban regeneration efforts, such as the 'Málaga Smart' initiative which focused on technological infrastructure, 'Conecta_Málaga' adopts a more holistic approach combining physical renewal with social and economic measures. The council expects to tender additional projects in the coming months, with completion targeted by 2030. Residents in affected areas can expect improved public spaces, better services, and enhanced connectivity across the city.
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