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El Corte Inglés de Méndez Álvaro will make way for a large park and a 27-storey tower
El Corte Inglés de Méndez Álvaro will be demolished. In its place, there will be a public park and an office tower. 72% of the land will be municipal. The project promises to transform the south of Madrid. Find out how the neighbourhood will change.
The emblematic El Corte Inglés shopping centre in Méndez Álvaro has its days numbered. After its definitive closure, the building will be demolished to make way for an ambitious urban project centred on green areas, municipal services and a new office skyscraper. The plan, approved in January 2026, will affect the 11,811 square metres of the plot on Calle Retama.
The major new development is that 72% of the land will pass into the hands of the City Council. The aim is to rebalance Arganzuela’s urban density and provide the neighbourhood with open spaces and public facilities, something greatly demanded by residents.
The future park will cover around 8,500 square metres and will be divided into two main areas. On the one hand, a green area at the south-west end, with abundant native trees to enhance biodiversity. On the other, a facilities building that will house municipal services and underground parking for residents.
On the private part of the plot, covering 3,311 square metres, an office tower of up to 27 storeys will be built. This new skyscraper will integrate visually with the park and aims to consolidate Méndez Álvaro as an economic hub in southern Madrid.
The project also includes improvements to pedestrian mobility. New connections will be created between Kentia and Retama streets, facilitating access and neighbourhood integration. The space, occupied for decades by a large shopping centre, will become a greener, more accessible environment designed for public enjoyment.