Torrevieja awards €8.25M contract to COBRA to rehabilitate La plasa; works could start in October
- Torrevieja City Council (Junta de Gobierno Local) has awarded the rehabilitation contract for the La Plasa building to COBRA Instalaciones y Servicios S.A.U. for €8,251,352 (VAT included).
- COBRA offered to shorten execution time by up to 15 weeks from the original 18-month schedule and extend the work warranty by an additional 45 months beyond the standard one-year guarantee.
- Works could begin in October, after a 15-business-day period for filing possible appeals following the award notification.
- The project will refurbish commercial and aesthetic aspects, improve accessibility, redesign adjacent streets and transform La Plasa into a market and gastromarket hub with 25 stalls focused on fresh, local, quality products.
- Second and third floors will be left open-plan for multipurpose municipal use; some services will move to other municipal buildings like Fábrica de Hielo and Las monjas.
Intro – Torrevieja’s local government has given the green light to a major rehabilitation project for La Plasa, the municipal market building in the city centre. the contract was awarded to COBRA Instalaciones y Servicios S.A.U. for €8.25 million (VAT included). The project aims to modernize the market’s commercial offer, improve accessibility and integrate the building better with the surrounding urban space. Officials say construction could start in October after a short administrative period for any appeals.
Contract details: price, timeline and guarantees
| item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Contractor | COBRA Instalaciones y Servicios S.A.U. |
| Awarded amount | €8,251,352 (VAT included) |
| Original execution term | 18 months (contract baseline) |
| Offered time reduction | Up to 15 weeks shorter than 18 months |
| Warranty extension | An additional 45 months (15 modules of 3 months) beyond the 1-year warranty required by contract (effectively extending guarantee coverage) |
| Planned start | October (after 15 business days from notification to allow appeals) |
What will change at La Plasa?
The rehabilitation is designed to be comprehensive, touching commercial layout, aesthetics, accessibility, interior distribution and the building’s relationship with adjacent streets. Key elements include:
- Market continuity: Ground floor will continue to host current vendors known for quality, local and fresh products – preserving the market’s core identity.
- Gastromarket and restoration: About 25 stalls will be oriented towards a gastromarket and resturant offer to attract diners and boost night-time activity.
- Urban permeability: The building will be redesigned to be more permeable and integrated with the urban surroundings, encouraging foot traffic and linking to surrounding commerce.
- Second and third floors: These will be left as open-plan, multipurpose municipal spaces to be used by the City Council - with some services relocated to other municipal sites like the Fábrica de Hielo or the Las Monjas building.
- Street redesign: Adjacent streets will be redesigned as part of the works to improve accessibility and the public realm.
Mayor Eduardo Dolón: revitalising the city centre
Mayor Eduardo Dolón emphasized that La Plasa’s rehabilitation is a priority for the municipal government and is intended to act as a “dynamo” for the city centre and the surrounding local commerce. The mayor confirmed the administrative timetable: the 15 business days after notification must elapse before work can begin to allow for any potential appeals against the tender award.
Why this matters for Torrevieja’s economy and residents
The project aims to strengthen the offer of fresh, high-quality local produce while diversifying the market’s appeal with restaurants and a gastromarket. Expected benefits include:
- Improved shopping experience and market accessibility for residents and tourists.
- Boost to local small businesses and producers who trade in fresh and nearby products.
- Increased footfall for the city centre, supporting adjacent retailers and services.
- new municipal multi-use spaces for cultural and administrative activities in the upper floors.
What to expect during construction
While the municipality has not published a full phasing plan with day-to-day logistics, residents and visitors should prepare for:
- Temporary changes to access routes and parking near La Plasa during works.
- Noise and construction activity in daytime hours while structural and finishing works take place.
- Phased relocation or temporary arrangement for some market stalls while the ground floor is refurbished.
The City Council will likely publish further practical information for traders and the public as the start date approaches.
Speedy facts
- Contractor: COBRA Instalaciones y Servicios S.A.U.
- Contract value: €8,251,352 (VAT included)
- Proposed start: October (after administrative appeal period)
- Ground-floor market: continuity for current quality/local product vendors + ~25 gastromarket stalls
- Upper floors: open-plan municipal use
Conclusion
The rehabilitation of La Plasa is presented by Torrevieja’s government as a strategic investment to modernize the municipal market, safeguard fresh local supply and stimulate the city centre’s commercial life.With an €8.25 million contract awarded to COBRA and a proposed start in October, residents can expect months of construction but, ultimately, a renewed market space designed to serve both everyday needs and gastronomic visitors.
Sources and credits
- Official proclamation – Ayuntamiento de Torrevieja: https://torrevieja.es/es/noticias/2025-09-19-adjudicadas-obras-rehabilitacion-edificio-plasa