Judge Orders Halt to Real Madrid’s Car Park Construction Project Near Santiago Bernabéu
Real Madrid has encountered a significant obstacle as a judge has ordered the suspension of a major construction project near the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.
The initiative, overseen by Real Madrid Estadio, a subsidiary of the football club under general manager José Angel Sanchez, aimed to build underground car parks adjacent to the stadium. The plan, initially awarded by Madrid City Hall, involved creating two underground parking facilities connected to the stadium, with construction costs covered by the city.
Real Madrid Estadio was granted a 40-year lease for the project, anticipating profits of €561 million over the lease period. Notably, Real Madrid Estadio was the only entity to bid on the contract.
Despite the club’s ambitions, local residents have expressed strong opposition to the project, voicing concerns over potential disruptions to their neighborhood and increased traffic from restricted access to several major roads.
Although the project had promised to provide 500 parking spaces for residents, critics argued that it would only replace spaces that would be lost from the surface parking areas.
The neighborhood association has been locked in a legal dispute with the City Council, accusing the authorities of prioritizing private interests while ignoring local concerns.
They also argued that the project lacked a proper construction permit. Real Madrid Estadio had offered to cover any costs related to delays, suggesting that the construction could continue while legal matters were resolved.
However, Sport has reported that a judge has now ordered an immediate halt to the construction. The judge ruled that continuing with the project could make undoing the work challenging, if not impossible, should the courts later decide against it.
The decision emphasized the importance of addressing the legal issues before further construction. The City Council now has two weeks to appeal the ruling.
This ruling deals a heavy blow to Real Madrid, as the car park project is an integral part of the club’s broader development plans for the Santiago Bernabéu. The project’s suspension leaves uncertainty hanging over the stadium’s future enhancements.
