PLANS for Benidorm’s new €50 million promenade linking the Poniente and Levante bays have taken a big step forward with the announcement of an international competition to come up with the design.

The contest was jointly launched by Benidorm’s mayor, Toni Perez, and the Valencian Environment and Infrastructure minister, Vicente Martinez Muz.

The project would also save the two 28-storey skyscrapers in Punta Llisera known as the Gemelos (Twins) after a long-running series of court cases.

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Martinez Muz said the design competition launch represents ‘the beginning of one of the most relevant urban and coastal regeneration projects in the Valencian Community’.

The minister stressed that his government wants to attract ‘the best international talent to find an architectural and landscape solution for height of a unique enclave that is Benidorm’.

Martinez Mus said the aim is to advertise the competition tender before the end of the year, to grant roughly three months for the submission of proposals and to have the winning proposal declared during the first quarter of 2027.

The contest will allow the choice of the best submission that combines architectural excellence, landscape integration, urban quality, sustainability and technical feasibility.

The winning team will draft the project, prepare the environmental impact study and assume the management of the works with a budget of €3.8 million.

Martinez Muz said the new promenade will complete pedestrian access along the entire Benidorm bay, as well as strengthening the connection between the city, the landscape, and the sea.

“In addition to improving the urban and environmental quality of the waterfront, the project aims to make this area an international benchmark for coastal architecture and design,” he added.

“Benidorm symbolises the new way of understanding coastal management promoted by the Valencian government: planning, dialogue, architectural excellence and lasting solutions so that the coast is a space for meeting, enjoyment and opportunity for all”, the minister concluded.

Benidorm mayor, Toni Perez, said the international competition has come about as a result of ‘an intense working meeting’ held between the City Council and the Ministry.

He praised the ‘commitment’ of Martinez Mus and the regional government to the project.

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