Barcelona, Spain – Following a recent agreement regarding the Besòs-Maresme district, the Barcelona city government, led by Mayor Jaume Collboni and the Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) municipal group have reached another accord to boost the rehabilitation of critically-needed housing within the city. Just ten days ago, the Socialists and Republicans agreed to an additional 15 million euros to triple the number of homes undergoing rehabilitation in Besòs-Maresme. Now, they aim to accelerate improvements to 432 affected properties in Trinitat Vella, which have been awaiting work for years.
According to reports, the agreement will manifest as a proposal presented by Elisenda Alamany, ERC’s leader on the City Council, during Friday’s plenary session. Key demands include improved direct communication with residents by strengthening the urban regeneration office in the neighborhood; enhancing precautionary measures – such as supports – already installed in 28 buildings; semi-annual monitoring of these measures; and a guarantee that residents won’t bear the cost of rehabilitation if European funds are lost.
The guarantee regarding funding is a crucial element of the pact. Delays in executing the rehabilitation plans have created significant concern, nearly eight years after the urban regeneration plan was approved. That original plan envisioned rehabilitating 432 apartments and 39 commercial spaces across 75 buildings situated between Via Barcino and the streets of Vicenç Montal, Mare de Déu de Lorda, Foradada, and Mossèn Epifani Lorda. As reported by the Federation of Neighborhood Associations of Barcelona (FAVB) in November, no rehabilitation projects have yet been signed for the entire neighborhood.
This situation jeopardizes the arrival of Next Generation funds earmarked for financing part of this operation. Access to these resources was contingent on the completion of the works by June 30, 2026 – a deadline that is now unattainable. The agreement between ERC and the city government stipulates that a portion of the 50 million euros allocated for rehabilitation in Barcelona’s 2024 budget will be used to cover the costs originally intended to be funded by European funds.
Pressure on Illa’s Budget
Sources within the executive branch have confirmed they will accept Alamany’s proposal. Although, they add a caveat: the agreement is linked to “the necessitate for a budget in the Generalitat [of Catalonia].” These sources underscore the importance of involving the other side of Plaça Sant Jaume in housing regeneration, given its competencies in the matter. The pact will therefore likewise put additional pressure on the PSC (Socialists’ Party of Catalonia) to support the budget proposals of Salvador Illa, as occurred last week with the connection of the tram line along Diagonal Avenue.
In fact, the City Council had already agreed to involve the Illa government in the rehabilitation of at-risk buildings in the Besòs-Maresme neighborhood. Following an agreement between the council and Barcelona en Comú, the creation of a specific public entity with participation from both the City Council and the Generalitat was agreed upon to expedite the work and allocate 400 million euros over the next twelve years to recover approximately 4,000 homes in poor condition in the area. Common ground has been established, with the understanding that this commitment should not depend on the final approval of the Catalan budgets.
Jaume Collboni became the Mayor of Barcelona on June 17, 2023, and has previously served as a member of the Parliament of Catalonia. He is a member of the Socialists’ Party of Catalonia. [1]
The situation highlights the ongoing challenges of urban renewal in Barcelona, and the complex interplay between local and regional politics in addressing critical housing needs. The agreement between ERC and the Collboni administration represents a step towards addressing these challenges, but its success will depend on securing the necessary funding and maintaining momentum in the face of logistical and bureaucratic hurdles.
Barcelona continues to grapple with issues of affordable housing and urban decay, and this latest agreement signals a renewed commitment to tackling these problems head-on. The focus on Trinitat Vella, a neighborhood with a significant number of aging buildings, underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for collaborative efforts to ensure safe and habitable living conditions for all residents.
The next key checkpoint will be Friday’s plenary session, where Alamany is expected to formally present the proposal. The outcome of that session will be a crucial indicator of the political will to move forward with the rehabilitation plans and address the concerns of residents in Trinitat Vella.
What’s next: The Barcelona City Council will vote on the proposal presented by Elisenda Alamany during the plenary session this Friday.
Share your thoughts on this developing story in the comments below.
