Algete is a municipality that is located in the northwest of the Madrid Region. It extends over an area close to 38 km2 and borders the municipalities of: El Molar and Fuente el Saz del Jarama, to the north; Valdeolmos-Alarpardo, to the east; Daganzo de Arriba and Cobeña, to the south; and San Sebastian de los Reyes, Colmenar Viejo and San Agustin de Guadalix, to the west.
It is located 33 km from the capital on the A-1, the main road that connects Madrid with the Basque Country and the French border.
The main access road to the urban centre of Algete is through exit 23 of the North Highway or A-1, continuing along the M-100 and later the M-106. To access Prado Norte the M-111 and to access Santo Domingo, exit 28 of the A-1 is the best option.
Algete is well connected with the main towns of the Madrid Region and Spain. Thanks to the highway axis, the city is very close to the Madrid-Barajas airport.
A leading municipality in the northern part of the region due to its infrastructures, its robust economy and the numerous green and natural spaces, Algete provides the necessary conditions for the establishment of large companies and, with them, its human capital.
DEMOGRAPHY
The first demographic data documented from Algete dates from the 16th century. As reflected in these first censuses, the population oscillated between 1,200 and 1,500 inhabitants, a figure that remained until the last quarter of the 20th century, when a notable increase was experienced, already exceeding two thousand in 1975.
From there a spectacular growth began: in 1981 there were more than five thousand inhabitants and in 1992 ten thousand.
Currently, Algete has a population of more than 20,000 inhabitants, and a population density of 461.5 inhabitants/km2, well above the national average. The population is divided between the urban area and the residential areas of Santo Domingo and Prado Norte.
ECONOMY
Algete is among the municipalities with the highest standards of living in the entire country. On the scale of income levels from 1 to 10, the municipality is located at level 7, similar to that of the Basque Country, La Rioja and the Catalan coastal provinces.
In addition, the municipality participates in the dynamics of the adjacent municipalities and has a medium-sized industry that is very numerous, the smallest being scarce and exceptional, dispersed throughout the urban area.
Regarding activity by economic sectors, the primary sector is disappearing; the industry continues to hold slightly higher positions (30%), while the services sector capitalizes on economic activity by employing almost 60% of the population.
In relation to unemployment, according to the latest studies carried out by the City Council on the active population, the level of unemployment in the municipality can be considered practically zero (7%); this is the structural unemployment, this rate being lower than the national average.
There are several industrial estates in the municipality: Rio de Janeiro, Los Nogales, Los Malatones or la Garza. All of them with development potential.
LEISURE
As a curiosity, they say that Algete comes from the Arabic “al-satt”, which means the “bank”. The bank of the Jarama River that is very present for its inhabitants.
Another of its great attractions is a natural environment with the natural farms of Sotos de la Heredad and Las Huelgas. Both, about 7 km from the urban area, have more than 170 hectares replanted with thousands of trees and crossed by the Jarama River. They are partially included in the protected area “Red Natura Basin of the rivers Jarama and Henares”. This is a place of transit and nesting for a multitude of birds, with more than 80 species.
The city has a delicious and traditional cuisine where lamb stews, “cocido”, porridge or shepherd’s scramble prevail, as well as sweet dishes as famous as Puches that are made for the All Saints holiday.
1.- COMMUNICATIONS
Roads: the main access road to the city is the A-1. Thanks to the A-1, Algete has a direct connection with Madrid, Alcobendas and San Sebastian de los Reyes. The city also has access to the rest of the municipalities of the outer ring of Madrid through the M-50.
Airplane: its main access to international markets is through Madrid-Barajas Airport. The distance from Algete to the airport is about 20 minutes.
Train: by rail, the city is connected with the rest of the provinces of Spain thanks to its proximity to the Atocha station, about 34.8 km away.
Public transportation
The main public transportation services provided are part of the Madrid Region bus network.
- 180 Alcobendas – Algete (Interbus)
- 181 Madrid (Plaza de Castilla) – Algete (Interbus)
- 182 Madrid (Plaza de Castilla) – Algete – Valdeolmos (Interbus)
- 183 Madrid (Plaza de Castilla) – Cobeña – El Casar (Interbus)
- 185 Madrid (Plaza de Castilla) – Nuevo Algete (Interbus)
- 254 Valdeolmos – Fuente el Saz – Alcala de Henares (ALSA)
- 263 Madrid (Barajas) – Cobeña – Algete (Interbus)
- N103 Madrid (Plaza Castilla) – Algete (Night Service) (Interbus)
2.- TALENT
Algete has all the educational services from compulsory school age to high school. In addition, it has a wide training offer in vocational training, closely related to its business network.
On the other hand, despite not having a university in its circumscription, it has all the university training offerings in the Madrid Region, with Alcala de Henares and the Autonomous University of Madrid as its closest headquarters.
3.- ECONOMIC CENTRE OF THE NORTHWEST OF THE MADRID REGION
Algete is one of the most relevant municipalities in the northern part of the Madrid Region among the small-medium municipalities.
Its industry occupies a very important part of its economic activity. Over the years, companies have specialized in providing services to large companies based in Madrid.
In addition, Algete is a city with an important development of the service sector.
4- STRONG MUNICIPAL COMMITMENT TO FAVOUR THE ECONOMY AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
The City Council supports and encourages local small and medium enterprises as a revitalizing and structuring element of the municipality; promotes the creation of business and the attraction of opportunities within the municipality; propels and encourages the industrial development of the estates and offers help and advice.
The Algete City Council has established a series of rebates in certain taxes such as:
REAL ESTATE TAX (IBI)
A rebate of 90% will be granted in the full amount of the tax, provided that this is requested by the interested parties before the start of the works, the properties that constitute the object of the activity of the urbanization, construction and real estate development companies, both new construction and rehabilitation comparable to this one, and are not included in its fixed assets. In the absence of a municipal agreement, the maximum rebate provided for in this article will be applied to the aforementioned properties.
The period of application of this rebate will be from the tax period following the one in which the works begin until the one after the completion of the same, provided that during that time urbanization or actual construction works are carried out, and in no case, may exceed three tax periods.
TAX ON ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES (IAE)
The Tax on Economic Activities in a direct tax, which taxable event is constituted by the mere exercise within the municipal term of business, professional or artistic activities, whether they are exercised in a specific place or not, and whether or not they are specified in the tax rates.
Business activities are considered, for the purposes of this tax, livestock activities when they are independent, mining, industrial, commercial and service activities.
- 95% rebate for Cooperatives, as well as their Unions, Federations and Confederations and the Agrarian Transformation Societies, by virtue of the provisions of the Law 20/1990, of December 18, on the Tax Regime of Cooperatives.
- Rebate of 50% of the quota for those who start the exercise of any professional activity, during the five years of activity following the conclusion of the second tax period for its development.
- The following rebates are established for job creation, for municipal taxpayers who have increased the average of their workforce under the following parameters:
- For every indefinite contract during the tax period immediately prior to the application of the rebate, in relation to the period prior to that, rebate of 5% of the corresponding fee, until reaching a maximum of 50% rebate.
- For every indefinite contract that exceeds the level of disabled persons established in its regulatory legislation, rebate of 10% of the corresponding fee until reaching a maximum of 50% rebate.
- The previous rebates will be applied to the fee resulting from applying, where appropriate, rebates referred to in sections 1 and 2 of this article.
TAX ON BUILDINGS, INSTALLATIONS AND WORKS (ICIO)
The constructions, installations and works that are declared of special interest or municipal utility will have a rebate of up to 95% of the tax fee, due to the concurrence of social, cultural, historical-artistic or employment promotion circumstances that justify such declaration.