Bilbao is located in the Nerbioi valley in the north of Spain through which the Nerbioi River flows, influenced by ocean tides. The most common threat in the valley is river flooding caused mainly by increased runoff due to land cover changes in the region. It is expected that the effects of climate change will increase the threat of flooding.
Bilbao is a city with a thriving and expanding economy and is facing high demand for new housing units and related infrastructure. As the city is located in a valley, there is not much room to expand and the redevelopment of some areas has been found as the most promising solution. Because of this, the city decided to redevelop an abandoned industrial peninsula to a residential area with the adequate protection from flooding. The redevelopment started in 2017 and is expected to be finished within 30 years.
The project was structured as a PPP, consisting of landowners and public authorities. The members contribute financially relative to the ownership of land (51% public, 49% private).
This project shows a very good example of how the adoption of hybrid approaches that integrate NbS to the use of infrastructure PPPs in urban spaces can make them more sustainable and resilient.
More information:
- The case study was published in Climate-ADAPT 5. October 2016 and last modified on April 2024.
- PPP for a new flood proof district in Bilbao, Spain
