November 4, 2020 - The Kopilica area of Split will be modeled on the Spanish city of Barcelona thanks to a 600,000 euro project financed by the EBRD.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is financing the strategic plan of Austrian company iC Consulenten with 600,000 euro, according to which the Kopilica area of Split would undergo a thorough revitalization to develop cultural, congress and hotel facilities and become like parts of Barcelona, the EBRD said on Tuesday.
The statement reads that the urban revitalization plan will radically transform Split by redeveloping a key port area and developing the city's Kopilica district. Split itself, it is said, will be able to reach its full potential, inspired by the success of similar interventions in cities such as Barcelona, Copenhagen, and London, where the neglected railway and port locations have been transformed into lively new neighborhoods tempting to work and live.
The strategic plan, developed by Austrian civil engineers from iC Consulenten and financed by the EBRD with 600,000 euro, focuses on the location of the main railway station in the port area and the Kopilica district on the northern coast of the Split peninsula. The goal of the plan is to reduce congestion in the city center and use the best city locations such as the main station, with the possible expansion of the city center.
The new arrangement of the port area and Kopilica would create a potential gross developed area of about 1.2 million square meters for approximately 15,000 inhabitants and 10,000 to 15,000 jobs.
The revitalization of the main station and the new road tunnel in the port would enable the development of cultural, congress, and hotel facilities.
As for Kopilica itself, the expansion of the city center is expected to include business premises, a university, large residential areas, and a "park and use public transport" system, which will be of great importance for the entire city area. EBRD estimates that meeting these goals will require a substantial new transport infrastructure.
A new light railway to the airport and a motorway bridge across the bay from Solin to Kopilica will be necessary preconditions for this development project. The EBRD supports this plan as part of its broader work in the field of urban revitalization as a holistic approach to overcoming the challenges faced by many cities in the countries in which they are active.
The EBRD is currently participating in projects in Pula, Šibenik, and Zagreb.
"Urban revitalization provides opportunities to rebalance the economy, attract foreign investment and use EU funds efficiently, and as the state has a key role to play in stimulating that investment, the EBRD is working closely with governments and state-owned enterprises at all levels to support the implementation of ambitious plans to transform Croatia's larger cities," the statement said.
The EBRD is a multilateral bank that promotes private sector development and entrepreneurial initiative in 38 countries on three continents. It is owned by 69 countries and the EU and the EIB.
Source: HINA, The Financial
To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
