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The area around Madrid Río will be changed forever by the Ermita del Santo project
The district of Latina is preparing for a transformation that will completely change the landscape next to Madrid Río. The Ayuntamiento de Madrid has given initial approval to the Ermita del Santo urban development project, an initiative that includes more than 500 homes, new green spaces, and two high-rise towers.
The plan will affect a plot of more than 44,000 square metres, currently marked by deterioration and empty commercial spaces. The proposal includes 530 homes, 129 of which will be protected, as well as new public spaces and renewed commercial activity.
The project aims to revitalise one of the most run-down areas by the river, but political and neighbourhood debate remains intense. Local associations and opposition parties believe the operation encourages speculation and could accelerate gentrification in the area.
One of the most controversial aspects is the inclusion of towers up to 28 storeys high and the possible development of spaces for flexliving. There are also concerns about the impact on mobility and traffic in an area already under pressure from urban growth.
The municipal Gobierno argues that the intervention will reopen spaces currently closed to the public and improve pedestrian connections with a new green corridor linking parks and Madrid Río. The plan also includes new landscaped areas and the planting of hundreds of trees.
The former Ermita del Santo was for decades a commercial and community landmark in Latina. Its gradual decline changed the daily rhythm of the area and left an urban void by the river that Madrid now wants to redefine.
The initial approval opens a new administrative phase, but also a broader debate about the city's future. The project has already become one of the main symbols in the discussion about housing, urban planning, and neighbourhood transformation in Madrid.