LOCATION
Espartinas is a municipality in Seville’s Aljarafe, located 12 km from Seville city at the exit that leads to Huelva, which has a population of 16,048 inhabitants (National Institute of Statistics, 2021), having increased its population compared to the year 2020.
It limits to the North with Olivares, Villanueva del Ariscal and Valenciana de la Concepción; to the West with Sanlúcar la Mayor; to the East with Gines and to the South with Umbrete, Benacazón and Bormujos.
Espartinas is very close to the city of Seville and at the intersection of the A49 and SE-40 highways, with which, in the very near future, it will be directly connected.
HISTORY
Most historians trace the origin of Espartinas to Roman Hispania. However, a minority traces its origins to a Turdetan settlement on the basis that Ptolemy’s work ‘Geography’ mentions a settlement in this area called Spoletinum.
The TURDETANS were a pre-Roman people who lived in Turdetania, a region that covered the Guadalquivir valley from the Algarve in Portugal to Sierra Morena.
In the Roman period, its population was dedicated to the cultivation of vines and olive trees. The prosperity of the area motivated the creation in this environment of the towns of Lauretum, Tablante, Paterna, Villalvilla and Mejina. After the Muslim invasion of the 8th century, these towns became dependent farmsteads of the district of Hish-al-Farach (the current San Juan de Aznalfarache).
THE NAME OF ESPARTINAS APPEARS FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH THE CHRISTIAN RECONQUEST OF THE GUADALQUIVIR VALLEY IN THE 13TH CENTURY.
The Castilian King Ferdinand III wanted to change the name of the place to “Monasteries”, but this change did not come to fruition. In the distribution, in Loreto (old Lauretum) a convent is founded, the nearby village of Cazalla Almanzor is granted to the inhabitants of Sanlúcar la Mayor and the rest of the population centres are included within Espartinas.
In 1281 the town participated in the Battle of Baeza. For this, King Alfonso X granted the city’s shield eight crosses (symbol of the battle) and a Maltese cross, used by the knights of that Order, whose design is based on four spearheads.
Since 1992, the date of the Universal Exhibition in Seville, the municipality has experienced great growth thanks to the Seville-Huelva highway.
HERITAGE AND CULTURE
– IGLESIA DE LA ASUNCIÓN: it was built in the mid-seventeenth century and enlarged in 1726 by Diego Antonio Diaz. The building consists of three naves and has Mudejar influences.
In the church, the image of “Nuestra Señora del Rosario” has been venerated for more than three centuries, and in the sacramental chapel the images of the Santísimo Cristo de la Sangre and the Virgen de los Dolores, holders of the Sacramental Brotherhood, are currently worshiped. .
– MONASTERIO DEL LORETO: the Franciscan convent, together with the estate of the same name and the medieval defensive tower of Christian origin called Torre de Loreto, make up an enclave of high heritage value, very prominent in the Aljarafe region of Seville. They have been declared a Site of Cultural Interest in the Monument category.
The space is characterized by having been the object of continuous occupation from Roman times to the present day, a fact that has given rise to the development of a set of buildings of diverse functionality, typology and chronological variety, related to the control of the territory, the exploitation of native natural resources and religiosity.
The enclosure has an entrance courtyard (compass), a church, a sacristy, two cloisters with galleries and intermediate spaces that connect the buildings. Most of the architecture is from the 18th century, although some from the 16th century and a medieval tower from the Late Middle Ages remain.
The main altar was made in the mid-eighteenth century and houses the Virgin of Loreto, patron saint of the Aljarafe region.
– THE HACIENDAS ESPARTINAS (ESTATES): typical within the architecture of Aljarafe, the Haciendas de Olivar are traditional agricultural estates dedicated to the cultivation of olive trees and the production of oil, although they also included other agricultural and livestock activities.
The origin of this architecture can be found in the Roman villas, which over time were transformed into Arab “farmhouses” to later become haciendas around which a population group settled.
Already in the 20th century, they ceased to be a profitable agricultural construction, the construction of a farm being considered a matter of social prestige. The hacienda is used for rest, a place for parties and meetings, hunts, excursions and hikes, etc.
They are currently finding new uses, municipal, cultural, hotel or tourist, which is avoiding irreparable loss in this important heritage of the community.
- Hacienda del ‘Loreto’ (attached to the Monastery and dedicated to viticulture activities)
- House of ‘Las Monjas’ (former Hacienda de San Rafael. Currently municipal dependencies)
- Hacienda de ‘La Merced’ (embedded in the historic centre, it is known as Hacienda El Cortijuelo and is dedicated to hosting events)
- Hacienda ‘Guardiola’ (former Hacienda Ntra. Sra. de los Remedios. Currently owned by the municipality and dedicated to cultural activities)
- Hacienda ‘Mejina’ (or Hacienda Mexina. Currently privately owned and dedicated to large hospitality events)
- Hacienda de ‘Tablante’ (currently maintains its private farming activity)
- Hacienda de ‘La Fortuna’ (or del Triunfo. Privately owned and dedicated to large events)
- Hacienda de Marchalomar (private ownership and use)
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
Espartinas is the second municipality with the highest per capita income in the andalusia region, and also ranks 117th among the towns with the highest gross income in spain.
The municipality is currently advancing in its vocation for comprehensive development as a self-sufficient population, in socioeconomic and cultural terms, endorsing sustainable future projects capable of generating important activity in a context of innovation and rediscovery of its own resources.
The proximity to seville and the residential and service environment of espartinas are added factors that facilitate constant activity on any scale that is necessary.
THE OLIVE INDUSTRY
Espartinas currently has 1,161 hectares of woody crops, of which 1,042 hectares are table olive groves.
Undoubtedly, the olive grove is an integral element of the life and history of Andalusia where most of its cultivation is oriented towards the production of oil. However, in Seville there is a specialization in the production of olives for direct consumption, which in the olive industry is known as ‘table olives’, focusing on two varieties, Manzanilla and Gordal.
Such is the primacy of Sevillian cultivation in this table olive industry that, today, of every twenty table olives consumed in the world, five are Spanish; four of which are Andalusian and, of those four, three are from Seville.
If in the province of Seville almost 40% of its olive grove is dedicated exclusively to table olives, in the Aljarafe region 95% of its 20,000 hectares of olive trees are dedicated to this activity.
From a strategic adaptation point of view, Espartinas is in the heart of Aljarafe, one of the most significant regions in the province in terms of table olives, which has led the city to recently apply to host the headquarters of the Regulatory Council of the Protected Geographical Indication of the Manzanilla and Gordal Olives of Seville in the facilities of the Hacienda Guardiola, with an innovative project for the future.
NEW PROJECTS
It is also one of the towns with the most dynamic growth projection in the province. With a mainly professional residential population and high potential, Espartinas is currently the second municipality in terms of income per capita in Andalusia. Its current challenge is to create a future with its own autonomous socioeconomic identity and overcoming its current dependencies as a primarily residential city.
It is, therefore, an excellent place that is at the right time to welcome future projects and make them their own, especially those capable of reconnecting and valuing nature and tradition, the resources and the culture of the place.
LAND AVAILABILITY
In Espartinas you can find José Díaz industrial estate, Los Vientos industrial estate and two technological and business parks, Petalo A and B, with a surface area of 130 Ha. They are located at the intersection of the A-49 Seville-Huelva motorway and the A-8062 Valencina-Mairena highway that crosses Aljarafe Norte heading NS.
They fall under the denomination of “New Areas of Activity” and have their precedent in the old industrial estates.
BUSINESS NETWORK
The businessmen of the city have come together around the business association ASEDES, founded in 2004 with the main purpose of working at the service of local businessmen and women, regardless of the sector of activity, to stimulate and promote the economic activity of Espartinas through trade shows, campaigns, events, collaborations, etc.
In addition, ASEDES, as a member of the SEVILLE BUSINESS CONFEDERATION (CES), makes all the resources available to its associates in the management of the services it provides and to meet their needs and support their development.
MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Among the main tools used to improve the management and perception of espartinas, are the following:
- Espartinas strategic plan, an innovative design to promote the socioeconomic and business growth of the municipality, in the short and medium term
- Sustainable mobility plan
- Accessibility plan
- Edusi, sustainable urban development strategy
Within the edusi projects that are going to be undertaken throughout 2020, the following stand out.
BUSINESS INCUBATOR
Fitting out of the old santa ana shopping centre as a business incubator.
The term node refers to the character of these centres as elements of a network, since these assets of cultural interest tend to be integrated into national or international networks of similar facilities to multiply their capacities and obtain technical and strategic support, and also this the term is used due to its character as a meeting point between local factors of entrepreneurship.
It is this concept that directs the santa ana-espartinas project, which is why this denomination has been chosen, and therefore, the concept that directs the reference operating model to determine its structure and spatial needs. The santa ana-espartinas incubator will be, above all, a place of activities; of collaboration and relationship with facilities where the attention and support to all the activity prior to the constitution of the companies will be essential, even above the aid for their growth when they are already in operation.
This type of centres or nodes may or may not specialize in a certain type of entrepreneurship; they usually focus on promoting companies that opt for new technologies and markets.
1.- A CITY THAT IS TRANSFORMING, PREPARED TO UNDERTAKE FUTURE PROJECTS
Espartinas is, above all, a place in TRANSFORMATION. A place full of opportunities, where EVERYTHING IS TO BE DONE at the best time to undertake FUTURE PROJECTS.
2.- QUALITY OF LIFE
Currently, espartinas is facing its second great challenge, transforming its character from a mainly metropolitan structure, and to a certain extent dependent, into that of a modern city, self-sufficient and fully connected to global networks, all without losing its privileged quality at of life which is a great competitive advantage. Espartinas is a privileged place to create projects for the future in an attractive residential environment for all types of professionals.
A safe, comfortable and accessible city, with a mild climate throughout the year, a short distance from the beaches of huelva and nature (42 km from doñana national park) with the necessary infrastructures so that families can carry out their life projects, with a doctor’s office, library, early childhood education centres, elementary and high school and professional training, as well as a constantly growing service sector.
3.- HUMAN CAPITAL
Espartinas has a qualified resident population to satisfy almost any type of professional need and this is one of its main differentiating features.
Talent is trained and prepared for entrepreneurship and to meet the labour hiring needs of companies that choose to invest in the territory.
4.- AVAILABLE LAND
Espartinas, although it is part of an original structure of small neighbouring towns on the cornisa del aljarafe, still has a large amount of available land.
The municipality has 2,277 hectares of land, with 70 hectares of industrial land already approved for immediate development in its petalo i and ii industrial and technological parks.
5.- LOGISTICS POTENTIAL
The location of the municipality, and particularly of this land of opportunity at the intersection of the S-40 ring road and the A-49 Seville-Huelva-Portuguese Algarve motorway, also constitutes an excellent opportunity for any type of establishment, significantly for those of logistic nature.
AID AND SUBSIDIES FROM ANDALUSIA REGIONAL GOVERNMENT
1.- regional incentives in collaboration with the central state administration to promote the development of the socioeconomic network of the territory with special attention to the increase in living standards. They include financial support of up to 75% of the investment and grants of up to 45%.
These incentives favour the promotion of the creation of innovative and technology-based companies, the promotion of the endogenous potential of the territory and diversification in the production and distribution sectors.
2.- incentives for the adoption of energy efficiency measures and use of waste heat through the improvement of technology in equipment and processes or the implementation of energy management systems, in accordance with the une-en iso 50001 standard. Up to 50 % of eligible costs and up to €150,000.
3.- aid for the acquisition, lesing or renting of new electric vehicles plug-in and fuel cell (moves iii) and up to 66% of recharging facilities.
4.- subsidies for indefinite hiring of people who have carried out non-labour internships in companies in andalusia within the framework of the professional experience program for employment. Up to €8,800 per job created under the conditions established in the announcement.
5.- MODERNIZATION AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF COMPETITIVENESS.
• 5.1 Subsidies with a non-competitive regime of award aimed at self-employed agricultural workers, members of associations, as well as certain cooperatives or social economy entities, which develop investment projects through the implementation of digital transformation solutions and/or digital marketing strategies. Up to 100% of eligible expenses, with a maximum of €6,000.
• 5.2 Granting of aid in kind for the execution of specialized consultancy services to accompany the SME in the process of digital transformation of the business up to €9,906.88.
6.- Obtaining the accreditation of certification of natural or artisan products and nature tourism services, according to the regulations of the “parque natural de andalucía” brand. Up to €6,000
MUNICIPAL AID AND SUBSIDIES OF THE “PLAN WITH YOU” (EDUSI)
1.- AID FOR HIRING NEW EMPLOYEES (Line 8). Call for aid to subsidize the hiring of unemployed people in the municipality, aimed at self-employed workers and companies that promote employment creation. Up to a maximum of ten contracts per company may be subsidized, up to 50% of the SMI (Minimum interprofessional wage) and up to 12 months.
2.- AID FOR MODERNIZATION AND DIGITALIZATION (Line 9). Line of aid to promote the process of digital transformation in the company, online sales and electronic commerce with a maximum of €8,000.
1.- LORETO BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY PARK (PETALO A AND B). LOGISTICS CENTRE WITH A PRIVILEGED LOCATION
Espartinas, in its southeast, meets the municipalities of Gines and Bormujos at the intersection of the A49 motorway and the A-8062 road, which forms the backbone of northern Aljarafe.
In this meeting place, an “Opportunity Area” was established in the Regional Planning that was articulated in the Business and Technology Park of Aljarafe, the object of an agreement between the three municipalities for the development of a joint action, taking advantage of the high accessibility of this land. Its central position in Aljarafe and its contribution to the diversification of uses in an eminently residential environment justify its metropolitan character.
Once the respective plans had been approved, the part corresponding to Espartinas is also articulated in the ALJARAFE EL LORETO BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY PARK (PETALO), in its two phases A and B, a project that covers an area of 597,000 m2 of gross surface area and 295,000 m2 of buildable area.
Pétalo A:
The first phase, PETALO A, already has the Urbanization Project and is in the imminent phase of starting its development. OVER 279,000 M2 OF SPACE, ITS 149,000 M2 OF BUILDING AREA REPRESENT A MAGNIFICENT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY for establishments of all scales, especially logistics, in an unbeatable communications node in the heart of the metropolitan conurbations to the west of Seville.
2.- INVESTMENTS IN THE OLIVE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY. OLIVE DOME
In the one million four hundred thousand hectares that the province of Seville covers, just over a third, half a million, remains today planted with trees. Of these five hundred thousand hectares, 300,000 are forest area and no less than 200,000 are olive groves.
If in Andalusia most of its cultivation is oriented to the production of oil, in Seville in particular it has traditionally specialized in the production of olives for direct consumption or, what in the olive industry is known as TABLE OLIVE.
The primacy of Seville’s cultivation in this table olive industry, not only at an Andalusian or national level but at a global level, has such a deep reach that, in large numbers, it can be affirmed that today, for every twenty olives that are consumed in the world, five are Spanish, of these, four are Andalusian, and of these, three are from Seville.
If in the province of Seville almost 40% of its olive grove is dedicated exclusively to table olives, in the Aljarafe Region no less than 95% of its 20,000 hectares of olive trees are dedicated to this activity.
But the table olive is not only its cultivation, it is also its processing, work that accumulates centuries of wisdom and experience in its artisanal treatment, from its curing to sweeten and protect it, to its seasoning and preparation, and also, in these times of globalization, its industrialization, its packaging, its commercialization, its distribution and export logistics. All this makes up a complex plot of business, technological, financial an economic activity where our province, its industry, is at the forefront of the international market.
The firm commitment to recovering, promoting and modernizing this traditional table olive industry in our environment means not only supporting an economic activity that has already been able to position itself at the forefront nationally and internationally, but also means choosing a model of reindustrialization that is part of our own culture and past.
Currently the municipality of ESPARTINAS IS ALSO APPLYING TO BE THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE PERMANENT DEPARTMENTS OF THE REGULATORY COUNCIL OF PROTECTED GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS (IGP) MANZANILLA AND GORDAL OF SEVILLE.
This circumstance allows those responsible for the municipal government to advance the study of a SINGULAR INSTALLATION OF A CULTURAL, SCIENTIFIC AND INFORMATIVE CHARACTER using part of an urban olive grove, respecting its nature. This installation, the Olive Dome, would be linked to the installations of a future local cultural complex, and would act as an element of notable enrichment of the activity of the Regulatory Council, of its presence, projection, image and dynamism.
3.- REAL ESTATE PROMOTION
Over the last twenty years, Espartinas has been one of the most attractive municipalities around Seville as a residential option, tripling its population to 16,000 current residents, and has become the second city in Andalusia in per capita income due to its great appeal as a place to live.
The imminent improvement of its direct connections to the A-49 and SE-30, and the still high availability of land and the on-going review of its Urban Planning General Program anticipate an important second phase of development, already started, this time not only as an extensive garden city but also as an urban centre of medium concentration.
Espartinas is therefore undoubtedly a place of great interest for residential developments in the coming years.
4.- INNOVATION AND BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURSHIP NODE OF SANTA ANA
Currently the City Council of Espartinas, with the collaboration of EDUSI Funds, is carrying out rehabilitation work on the Santa Ana Shopping Centre to establish an Innovation and Business Entrepreneurship Node there.
This place is conceived as A FORUM FOR THE CREATION AND START-UP OF NEW GENERATION BUSINESS PROJECTS, and it will also be a perfect meeting place for investors with entrepreneurs in order to identify emerging projects that require investment.
