20^th Century

Rey Pastor’s map of 1926 lays out the Vega Baja zone close to the historic city, showing the basilica of the Cristo de la Vega, the disused cemetery and the remains of the Roman circus with its floor plan outlined, inside which the Venta de Aires (the Aires Inn) now appears. At the end of this are the plots of the Minim convent and the basilica of the Gothic St Leocadia. Tracks are drawn in too, like those going to the Old Cemetery, to the Arms Factory and to the Cristo de la Vega. Another track, going from east to west, leads to a site that is presumed to be the Arab necropolis. Further to the north, more agricultural lands are shown.

In 1944, the department of Devastated Regions bought a large tract of the former livestock resting place for development as a residential area with blocks of flats. Part of the Vega Baja land was thus caught up in the urban planning process that would determine city growth. The new housing that the department proposed for Toledo in the Vega Baja meant new city growth close to the historic centre.

Some time after the Devastated Regions agency ceased to operate, drafting of a comprehensive urban plan, the Special Plan for Toledo, was begun. A technical committee and a directing committee were set up. These worked together and coordinated the activity of the various bodies involved. Responsibility for drafting the Plan was given to Joan Busquets. Working from comprehensive documentation put together by the Ministry of Culture and regional and local government authorities, his design established a firm foundation for future city growth. The Special Plan for the city and its historic centre created buffer zones around the principal roads into the city to provide clear, uninterrupted views. This followed on from planning initiatives from the second half of the 20^th century that required visual arcs – areas of clear visibility - to be maintained to ensure line of sight views of the historic city from the area around.