The Zorrotzaurre urban area covers 673,560 square metres, with little over a half belonging to public bodies (the Basque Government, the Port Authority of Bilbao and Bilbao City Council). The rest belongs to private industrial companies and local residents.

Zorrotzaurre’s recent history is one of industrial development that was boosted in the sixties with the beginning of the works on the Deusto canal.

Different industrial activities flourished, particularly those related to the maritime and port activities operating on both banks of the canal and other production facilities were installed on the former Deusto bank either behind or between front-line residential buildings.

The economic crisis of the seventies had a profound effect on this industrial area, which went into a progressive decline. This has led to closure of part of the industrial activity and deterioration in the quality of life in the area due to the ageing of the housing stock and public and private spaces.