Barcelona City Council has launched a new €10 million grant scheme to support home energy efficiency renovations across the city. This initiative, part of a broader €50 million rehabilitation package, aims to help residents reduce energy consumption and improve their living conditions.
Deputy Mayor for Housing, Jordi Valls of the Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSC), and Elisenda Alamany, leader of the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) in the city, announced the programme. They spoke in front of a renovated facade on Rambla Catalunya, a prominent street in the Eixample district. The grants offer up to €6,000 per home for works undertaken since 2020, provided the minimum cost is €1,000. Eligible improvements include facade insulation, window replacement, and the substitution of fossil fuel heating systems, such as natural gas boilers, with renewable energy alternatives like aerothermal systems. The property must serve as the applicant's habitual and permanent residence.
Boosting Home Energy Efficiency
The council estimates that approximately 2,000 homes will benefit from these grants. This will lead to significant energy savings for residents and contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change. ERC leader Elisenda Alamany emphasised the importance of the initiative. She stated, "Rehabilitation is a key tool, among others, for Barcelonans to be able to continue living in the city." Alamany added that Barcelona's housing stock is "ageing" and its maintenance is a "priority" for the city's future.
Grant Details and Eligibility
The first call for subsidies totals €4 million, co-financed by European Union (EU) Next Generation funds. This initial phase will close in June, aligning with the EU's deadline for obtaining this specific funding. A subsequent round will allocate an additional €6 million from municipal coffers. Deputy Mayor Valls highlighted the council's commitment to ongoing rehabilitation efforts. He affirmed that rehabilitation would remain a "priority policy" for the city council in the coming years.
Addressing EU Funding Deadlines
A critical challenge involves the EU Next Generation funds, which require works to be completed by 30 June to qualify for subsidies. This strict deadline poses difficulties for several ongoing neighbourhood regeneration projects. For instance, in Besòs i el Maresme, a working-class neighbourhood in the Sant Martí district, renovations in most of the ten stairwells included in a pilot plan will not finish on time. Similarly, in Trinitat Vella, a northern district of Barcelona, none of the reforms in 75 communities committed since 2018 have commenced. The city council has pledged to cover the costs of these projects with its own capital if they fail to meet the EU justification deadline. Deputy Mayor Valls expressed optimism that the Spanish government would soon modify the decree. This modification would allow projects to qualify for subsidies if they have started by 30 June, rather than requiring full completion.
Long-Term Housing Strategy
Deputy Mayor Valls reported that the council has already allocated aid to 8,603 flats. This includes nearly €125 million from Next Generation funds for various renovation programmes in 6,111 homes. The current €10 million scheme forms part of a larger €50 million package dedicated to housing rehabilitation. This broader commitment emerged from negotiations between Mayor Jaume Collboni's government and the ERC municipal group. The collaboration between PSC and ERC on housing initiatives in Barcelona contrasts with their ongoing disagreements regarding the Catalan government's budget.
Political Cooperation and Challenges
The PSC and ERC previously announced a €15 million injection to accelerate renovation work in Besòs i el Maresme for 2026. They also agreed to unblock the Trinitat Vella project, with the specific amount yet to be defined. The Socialists remind ERC that the Generalitat, the Catalan government, must also contribute to these regeneration plans. They urge ERC to finalise a budget agreement with Salvador Illa's government. This would unlock pending remodelling projects in both Besòs i el Maresme and Trinitat Vella, ensuring comprehensive support for these vital urban renewal efforts.
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Originally published by El Periódico Barcelona. Read original article.
