Land-use transformations in the city of Murcia and its surroundings (1977-2010)

Abstract

Most of Spanish cities have experienced important urban and territorial changes since the establishment of Regional Governments –Autonomous Communities of Spain–.As a result, there has been a transformation of the existing cities and an excessive urban expansion. However, each city has had its own characteristics and peculiarities. The case of Murcia and its territory is of special interest as three different phenomena have occurred, with certain intensity, affecting: the central city, the fertile peri-urban space of the Huerta (Market Garden) and the creation of new peripheries. The first period –until approximately 1995– is characterized by the transformation of the historic Centre, offering a new image to the capital. After this period, important efforts were made to transform urban and territorial new peripheries located at some distance from the traditional city, introducing residential and tertiary land uses. Finally, the occupation of agricultural land (Huerta) occurs continuously throughout all periods. The combination of these three processes has defined a new space in which urban territorial relationships have radically changed.