The Castelldefels City Council has expressed its rejection of the awarding of the review works for the Master Plan of Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, warning of possible technical deficiencies and lack of transparency.
The Castelldefels City Council has questioned the quality and transparency of the awarding process for the review works of the Master Plan of Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport. The contract, tendered by AENA, was awarded on July 7 for an amount of 2.68 million euros, a figure that represents a 40% reduction compared to the initial estimated value of 4.5 million.
The council believes that this budget cut jeopardizes the quality of the studies necessary to assess the impact of a possible airport expansion. In a statement, the City Council has requested a technical justification that certifies that the work can be carried out with the same guarantees despite the budget cut.
The Master Plan must define the development lines of the airport under sustainability and efficiency criteria, aiming to consolidate Barcelona as an international hub. The document is expected to be definitively approved by the end of 2029. However, Castelldefels demands that the process considers all possible alternatives and is not limited to a single expansion option.
“Studying various alternatives is essential to ensure the objectivity of the process and determine the best solution to balance mobility needs with environmental protection and the quality of life of citizens,” municipal sources have argued.
Another point of friction is access to information. The Castelldefels City Council has reported that the municipality, as one of the potentially most affected areas by airport activity, especially due to noise, could be excluded from the file. The council demands that it be guaranteed access to all relevant documentation.
Public health is one of the main concerns. The council reminds that there is scientific evidence linking continuous exposure to aircraft noise with adverse health effects. Therefore, it requests that the environmental assessment includes a rigorous analysis of health impacts, weighted equally with other environmental criteria.
Castelldefels has historically suffered from the disturbances caused by aircraft noise during approach and take-off maneuvers. A possible expansion of the airport, according to the council, could worsen this situation if adequate corrective measures are not taken.
The debate over the expansion of El Prat airport is not new. Several municipalities in Baix Llobregat and environmental entities have expressed their opposition to any growth that is not accompanied by a thorough assessment of environmental and social impacts. Castelldefels now joins these voices with a critical stance regarding the awarding process.
The next step will be the development of the review works of the Master Plan, which will need to specify future options for the infrastructure. The Castelldefels City Council has announced that it will closely monitor the evolution of the file and will not hesitate to take appropriate legal measures if it considers that the necessary guarantees are not respected.
Meanwhile, the residents of Castelldefels and the municipalities near the airport continue to await a decision that could change their daily lives. Air quality, noise, and the value of their homes are some of the factors that could be affected by an airport expansion.
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