Details
- Publication date
- 25 April 2025
- Author
- Directorate-General for Climate Action
Description
Key Learnings
- Collaborative Financing: A balanced financial model, in which public stakeholders (51%) and private developers (49%) collaborate on infrastructure costs, ensures shared responsibilities and investment.
- Innovative Flood Protection: The project integrates engineered flood protection (e.g. canal expansion and floodwalls) with nature-based solutions (e.g. parks and permeable surfaces), creating a more adaptive and resilient system. This holistic approach mitigates flood risks and improves biodiversity, urban liveability, and long-term climate resilience.
- Community Engagement: Residents actively participated in shaping green spaces and preserving historic buildings, ensuring social buy-in and cultural continuity. Public consultations influenced key planning decisions, leading to greater inclusivity and public support.
Summary
The Zorrotzaurre redevelopment project in Bilbao, Spain, applies a private-public partnership model to reduce climate-related flood risks. Led by The Comisión Gestora de Zorrotzaurre, a mixed non-profit organisation overseeing the partnership, it balances public oversight with private sector efficiency, enabling joint decision-making on flood protection, land elevation and green infrastructure.
Since 2012, the project has transformed an industrial peninsula into a flood-resistant residential area. Funding is based on land ownership, with 51% public and 49% private investment. Public funds have been directed towards flood protection infrastructure, such as the Deusto Canal, while private developers invested in land elevation and green spaces.
This initiative highlights the potential for effectively combining public and private funding to address urban challenges such as climate change and flooding.
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