Role of Parque Expo

 A Parque Expo foi incumbida pela Câmara Municipal de Almada de elaborar o plano de pormenor.

Objectives

To define an integrated vision for the urban and environmental renewal intervention envisaged for this area of the Almada County, by identifying priority interventions and needs in reconciling the interests of public and private entities. The objective is to devise a model capable of integrating strong environmental, economic and social constraints.

Promoting the enhancement of natural resources taking their specificities, and the excellence of their potential within a metropolitan context, into consideration;

• Addressing adequate territorial planning along the coastline, articulating the expansion of Trafaria with the plans for Costa da Caparica, and thereby fostering the attraction of activities capable of adding value to the area;
• Framing the planning for the envisaged Arriba platform, in order to prevent eventual pressure arising on possible construction of a crossing between Algés and Trafaria;
• Enhancing accessibility with particular focus on increasing transport services serving the area;

Executive Summary

The Intervention Area is inserted in a territory which presents a rather unique situation within the context of the Greater Lisbon Metropolitan Area. The site stands at the juncture between the mouth of the Tagus River and the Atlantic Ocean, as earmarked by the Bugio Fort, and it delimits the northern boundary of the urban area and the Costa de Caparica beach frontage and the transition towards the Tagus waterfront, while connecting with the Trafaria urban area, on its eastern border.

In retrospective, the occupational and organisational features of the surrounding areas highlight significant transformation has been taking place, which developments need to be framed within the scope of an effective land management instrument.

This area has been occupied by ad-hoc construction, which was originally unlicensed (for permanent or seasonal occupation) in some areas, which phenomenon was a result of the singular geographical features of the area or followed the inflow of immigrant populations settling predominantly on privately held land while awaiting licensing and taking advantage of a lack of administrative clarity on the rightful regulatory entity holding jurisdiction over the territory – the Segundo Torrão neighbourhood – which situation needs to be urgently addressed and integrated.

Those swathes of existing built-up construction are in conflict with the guidelines as set out in land management instruments for the area.

The southern border of this territory adjoins the Costa de Caparica Polis Program Intervention Area and its re-planning in conformance to urban and environmental renewal objectives will represent another important step towards enhancing the value of the entire Almada Atlantic Seafront as a major environmental and economic resource for that Region (Tourism, Recreation, Leisure, and Sports).

In addition, the territory includes a strip of land under the jurisdiction of the Lisbon Port Authority (“APL”), plus another section belonging to the INAG, Portugal’s Water Institute, and, finally, it integrates a few military facilities and related services which equally need to be framed and re-assessed within the context of the envisaged intervention.