Opaque Urban Planning. The Megaproject Santa Cruz Verde 2030 Seen from the Local Perspective (Tenerife, Spain)

Megaprojects, as a part of neoliberal urbanism, have become an important element cities worldwide. In Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, the megaproject Verde 2030 represents this type project. The ambitious plan seeks to transform city’s oil refinery into urban quarter. However, since its announcement in summer 2018, no critical public discussion has taken place, although project is expected reconfigure waterfront and tourist model. context, it particularly stakeholders’ point view that neglected. We thus offer qualitative analysis five interviews with local stakeholders from real estate sector, politics, planning environmental association. shows interviewees feel insufficiently informed by project’s initiators. interpreted elitist symbol how initiators understand development. While some want accelerate whole process, others call for more integrative participative approach. Moreover, observed marketing campaign directly linked upcoming elections. observe simple top-down which contradicts promises enable civic participation integration.