The Barcelona City Council and the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) have finalised a €15 million agreement to accelerate a critical urban regeneration programme in the Besòs i el Maresme neighbourhood. The deal, announced on Monday, will fast-track the rehabilitation of hundreds of homes suffering from serious structural deficiencies and improve public services for residents.

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This investment, part of the 2026 budget framework, provides an immediate boost to a long-stalled project in the Sant Martí district. It aims to bridge the gap while authorities develop a larger, more comprehensive plan. In February, Mayor Jaume Collboni’s government and Barcelona en Comú agreed to a €400 million, 12-year strategy involving the Generalitat de Catalunya, but progress has been slow.

First Deputy Mayor Laia Bonet explained that the new €15 million pact with ERC allows the city to “accelerate in the meantime.” Speaking at a press conference, she added, “From the government, we think these are realistic measures that we need to start now.”

From Pilot Project to Full-Scale Renovation

The core of the agreement is a significant expansion of the housing rehabilitation scheme. A pilot project launched in 2020 targeted 204 flats, but its slow progress has put crucial EU Next Generation funding at risk, with a deadline for completion of 30 June 2026 to secure the grants.

Under the new deal, the scope will triple to cover 720 homes across 10 entire blocks. The plan includes 12 specific actions to execute in 2026, targeting buildings plagued by issues such as aluminous cement. Experts have detected this problem in over 30 buildings in the area.

To address this urgency, the city will launch a new inspection programme to assess 1,000 homes suspected of having serious or very serious structural pathologies. The city will also create a dedicated team to conduct biannual monitoring of buildings currently propped up for safety.

Enhanced Support for Residents

The agreement recognises the disruption that the extensive works will cause for residents. The number of temporary flats available for rehousing families during the two-to-three-month renovation period will more than double this year, increasing from 27 to 57.

For a longer-term solution, the Municipal Institute for Housing and Rehabilitation of Barcelona (IMHAB) will tender projects this year for two new residential blocks. Located on Carrer de Puigcerdà and Carrer de Veneçuela, these buildings will provide an additional 61 properties to facilitate temporary relocations, with an expected completion date between late 2028 and early 2029.

Additionally, the city will establish a new information office on Carrer de Bernat Martorell. It will operate on weekdays to provide affected residents with direct support and guidance throughout the renovation process.

Political Reactions and Broader Ambitions

Jordi Coronas, a councillor for ERC, emphasised the deal’s immediate impact. “We are moving from commitment to reality,” he stated, noting the agreement also secured funding for new outdoor sports facilities, a library, and initiatives to boost local commerce.

“We are giving a message of reassurance to families who are living in conditions where they don’t know the extent of the risk,” Coronas added.

David Escudé, the councillor for the Sant Martí district, celebrated the move from “words to action.” He expressed hope that the new investment would finally bring dignity to the neighbourhood, which lies on the border with Sant Adrià de Besòs, an area also undergoing significant redevelopment with its Tres Xemeneies transformation plan.

However, the agreement has not received universal praise. Barcelona en Comú labelled the deal a “patch” and urged both the Socialists (PSC) and ERC to secure a broader budget agreement with the Generalitat “so as not to leave the Besòs neighbourhoods again without a response that is up to the challenge.” The situation highlights the ongoing political friction between left-wing parties that continues to influence major city projects.

For now, this €15 million injection represents a concrete step forward for the residents of Besòs i el Maresme, promising to address long-standing structural problems and improve living conditions while the more ambitious, long-term regeneration strategy takes shape.