Author(s)

J. L. Miralles i Garcia, S. Díaz Aguirre & V. J. Altur Grau

Abstract

The extraordinary urban development that has occurred in Spain in the period of 1997–2007 allows us to analyze directly the generated environmental problems. In this period, between 300,000 and 900,000 houses were built in Spain each year and many of them were built on the Mediterranean coast. In many areas of new urban development, houses are unsold because there is no market and many areas are completely urbanized but not built on. So this reality is a great laboratory where we can directly check the environmental consequences of unjustified urban developments. There is legislation for the prevention of the environmental impacts of urbanization in Spain. This legislation has failed to avoid unnecessary urban development although it has produced clear environmental impacts. The F. Eiximenis research group analyzed select cases on the Valencian coast (between Sagunto and Cullera) for assessing the environmental effects of these urban developments, particularly concerning the transformation of the soil’s environmental value, the consumption of resources and the emissions. The land transformation has been analysed by CORINE data, digital images and direct observation. This paper explains the situation produced and the main findings of the research. Keywords: urban development, urban planning, natural resource management, environmental impact and urban governance.

Keywords

urban development, urban planning, natural resource management, environmental impact and urban governance.