Fotocasa: The Price of Parking Spaces Soars by 12% in Carmena’s Madrid Central

9 December 2018 – Voz Pópuli

It’s been a week since Madrid implemented the so-called ‘Madrid Central’ project, which restricts the access of the most polluting vehicles into the centre of the city. But some parties have been doing business for several months thanks to the regulatory changes approved by the mayor Manuela Carmena’s team in this regard.

The sales price of parking spaces has soared by 12%, according to data provided by the portal Fotocasa. The price of acquiring a spot in which to park a private vehicle increased from €26,960 to €30,152, on average, between September and October, in other words, a month before the introduction of the measure.

Although rental prices, by contrast, stayed the same at €177/month, so far this year, the district where Madrid Central is located is where prices have risen almost by the most, 9.7%, behind only San Blas, where they increased by 10.8%.

Madrid Central is looking “to ensure that our health is protected against the effects of air pollution, which in Madrid exceeds the protection levels established by European legislation. It will also contribute to the reduction of noise and to the fight against climate change, by reducing the emission of greenhouse gases”, explain sources at the Town Hall of Madrid.

Parking in the centre of Madrid

Parking in the centre of Madrid will be a real headache from now on. The most polluting cars, those that display B and C labels from the DGT, will be able to circulate in the centre to park in the various parking lots, but they may be fined if they cross into the Madrid Central perimeter without entering an underground parking lot, and even more so, if they decide to park in a SER zone (blue or green). In the event that there is no space in any of the parking lots, vehicles cannot be fined and the Town Hall will report that fact.

How can drivers know if there are any spaces available in the city centre’s parking lots? The Town Hall plans to install electronic screens at the 17 access points to Madrid Central, which will inform users about the availability of parking in real time. Nevertheless, those screens are not going to be installed until May next year, as they are currently at the tender contract phase.

The problem arises because the Town Hall has already announced that it will start to fine any drivers of private vehicles who break the new regulations from February onwards, three months before users will have information on the screens.

Original story: Voz Pópuli (by Carlos Frías)

Translation: Carmel Drake