Porto's Boavista Set for Major Overhaul with New El Corte Inglés, Housing, and Infrastructure
A landmark urban renewal project has been officially set in motion for a 22,000-square-meter plot in Porto's Boavista district, the former site of the Porto-Boavista Railway Station. The development, a multi-faceted initiative by Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP), will introduce a new El Corte Inglés department store, a 100-unit residential complex, and the future headquarters for Metro do Porto, all interconnected by a new road network designed to enhance local mobility.
The project specifications, detailed in a licensing application from July 2025, outline the construction of two new streets. The first, designated 'Rua A', will span 156 meters to connect Rua 5 de Outubro with Avenida da França. The second, 'Rua B', will extend 179 meters, linking Rua de Helena Sá e Costa to the aforementioned 'Rua A'. These new thoroughfares are considered essential for servicing the high-traffic commercial and administrative buildings planned for the site, as well as improving access to the new Casa da Música metro station. The project's descriptive memorandum, submitted by MVCC Arquitetos, also notes the potential for these streets to accommodate STCP bus routes, offering a strategic diversion from the often-congested Boavista roundabout.
The land, which was officially declassified from the state's public railway domain in February 2022, has been divided into three distinct parcels following a Prior Information Request (PIP) approved in September 2020. Parcel 1, the largest at 8,147 square meters, is the designated site for the new El Corte Inglés. The structure will feature six floors above ground and three subterranean levels, with a maximum height of 25 meters. The total building area for commercial use is capped at 52,613 square meters, with an additional 19,490 square meters allocated for parking and technical areas. Camilo Cortesão of MVCC Arquitetos, who also designed the city's distinctive metrobus stations, is leading the architectural design, ensuring a cohesive aesthetic with recent public works in the area.
The financial arrangement for the commercial plot is based on a long-standing agreement between IP (formerly REFER) and El Corte Inglés, first established with a promissory contract in July 2000. The Spanish retailer will pay a total of €29.4 million for a 99-year surface right to the land, which can be extended for an additional 45 years. A significant portion of this fee has reportedly been paid in installments over the past two decades as the project navigated various planning stages.
While the El Corte Inglés store will serve as the commercial anchor, the development also addresses the city's pressing need for new housing. The remaining two parcels, with a combined area of 3,980 square meters, will be retained by IP for the construction of 100 new residential units. A small section of this area is also slated for service-oriented businesses. Details regarding the specific type of housing—whether it will be designated for affordable housing or open market sales—have not yet been disclosed by IP.
A spokesperson for IP confirmed the project's scope, stating, 'This is a strategic redevelopment that repurposes underutilized state-owned land to meet Porto's contemporary needs. The integration of commercial, residential, and transport infrastructure in a single, master-planned project will create a dynamic new focal point in Boavista.' The urbanization contract, a tripartite agreement between the Porto municipality, IP, and El Corte Inglés, formalizes the commitments and obligations of each party in bringing the extensive project to fruition.
The new development is expected to have a significant economic impact, creating construction jobs in the short term and permanent retail and service positions upon completion. The inclusion of the Metro do Porto headquarters further solidifies the area's role as a central node for the city's administration and public services. The demolition of the old station building, authorized in 2022, cleared the way for this complete transformation, moving the area away from its industrial past and toward a future as a modern, integrated urban center. Monitor new development opportunities at realestate-lisbon.com.
