Judy Wayne is a Director with Altair.
Posted 05.10.12
On a recent holiday to the Costa Brava for some late summer sunshine, I reflected upon community and housing developments in one small town. These may not be replicated elsewhere in Spain - though I expect that the 'No Cuts' posters are widespread - they may, however, give insights into regeneration and new developments in another country.
Picture by by Jaume Meneses
In the porch of the church in the old town area of La Vila Joiosa there was a notice inviting people to join a community gardening group - not that different from the UK, I thought. For example, Garden Organic is working with Orbit Heart of England to develop growing skills, and the NHF guide Greener Neighbourhoods gives other examples of resident involvement in communal green spaces.
My companions, who had visited La Vila Joiosa for many years, pointed out the brightly coloured houses clinging to the sides of the steep banks of the Amadorio river; these had mostly been renovated from their previous, run-down state. The riverbed itself now formed the centrepiece of a park running from the town to the sea - welcome greenery in a mostly arid landscape.
On the outskirts of the town, former areas under cultivation, seemingly long abandoned to nature, had been laid out with paving, roads and lighting, ready for new developments. A number of these had gone up in recent years, along with the swimming pool and landscaped areas for adjoining apartment blocks.
A nursery school and sports facilities added to the sense that housing and community development went hand-in-hand.
