Torrevieja Council has approved the award of a contract to draft the basic and detailed plans for a future underground car park beneath Plaza Encarnación Puchol in La Mata. The six-month contract, worth 141,570 euros including VAT, has been awarded to Miguel Ángel Uribe Martínez after his bid received the highest score. It includes the safety and health study and waste management plan, but not the construction itself.

The council describes the project as a necessary technical step before launching a public tender for a private concession. The future concessionaire would fund and build the car park and the redesigned square, investing at least four million euros. In return, the operator would run 126 parking spaces for a concession period that has not yet been announced.

The underground structure would cover 3,802 square metres, while the renovated surface area, including adjacent zones, would span about 4,500 square metres. Plans include landscaped areas, a children’s play park and shaded seating with pergolas. Technical studies have examined ground conditions, parking demand and the possible presence of archaeological remains linked to historic salt storage.

Mayor Eduardo Dolón has said the scheme will improve accessibility, greenery and comfort in the square. However, some residents argue that 126 spaces will not fully resolve La Mata’s long-standing parking shortage, particularly during peak seasons.