Barcelona's Ajuntament announced a significant €50 million investment over the next three years for the rapidly expanding La Marina districts, aiming to prevent social imbalances and inequalities. Mayor Jaume Collboni confirmed the funding, which will support the development of Marina del Prat Vermell and Marina del Port, areas set to welcome approximately 30,000 new residents and 12,000 new homes within the next decade.
This investment targets Barcelona's largest growth zone, alongside La Sagrera, as one of the few remaining areas for urban expansion. The Ajuntament expects half of the 12,000 new homes to be public housing. Mayor Collboni emphasised the proactive nature of the plan during a visit to the area. "These growth processes can bring many imbalances and inequalities," Mayor Collboni stated. "New residents in these neighbourhoods must have all necessary facilities. With this unique plan, we truly aim to anticipate problems, ensuring these imbalances and inequalities do not occur. This way, we will improve residents' quality of life."
The municipal plan focuses on establishing numerous public facilities and fostering local commercial activity to meet daily needs. Works are already underway for a new nursery school and swimming pools within a sports complex. Additionally, the Ajuntament has selected a site for a new Primary Care Centre (CAP), which the Generalitat de Catalunya will build. This ensures essential services keep pace with population growth.
Boosting Public Housing and Local Commerce
Mayor Collboni highlighted the importance of housing in defending residents' right to remain in Barcelona. He noted 1,056 flats are currently under construction in La Marina, with over 1,400 more in various stages of processing. Half of these new homes will be officially protected housing. "The right to stay in Barcelona is defended by generating new housing," Mayor Collboni said. "Here we have 1,056 flats in construction and over 1,400 more in process, half of them officially protected. In two weeks, we will deliver 112 more. We are preparing another development of 192 homes." The plan also includes measures to revitalise public ground floors, encouraging local commerce. This initiative, however, remains in its early stages. Previous attempts to boost local businesses in similar projects have shown this can be a complex challenge for the municipal executive.
Major Infrastructure Upgrades Planned
A significant infrastructure project involves the reform of Paseo de la Zona Franca, a critical artery for the La Marina districts. Mayor Collboni confirmed the Ajuntament is commissioning the executive project for this reform. "We are already commissioning the executive project for the reform of Paseo de la Zona Franca," Mayor Collboni added. "We expect to have it ready by 2028, with works starting in the next mandate." The redesigned promenade will resemble the new Avenida Meridiana. It will feature a central trunk dedicated to pedestrians and cyclists, with traffic lanes on the sides and much wider pavements. This transformation aims to better integrate and structure this rapidly developing part of Barcelona.
Long-Term Vision for Barcelona's Expansion
The Mayor set the true horizon for this ambitious plan at 2035. This long-term vision suggests significant changes for the city over the next nine years. The Ajuntament acknowledges that the pace of public housing construction often lags behind commercial revitalisation plans. This plan aims to address these discrepancies by planning ahead. The La Marina districts, along with La Sagrera, represent Barcelona's primary expansion zones. They are critical for providing much-needed housing and public spaces in a densely populated city. This strategic investment seeks to ensure equitable growth for all new and existing residents.
The Ajuntament's proactive approach in La Marina aims to avoid the common pitfalls of rapid urbanisation, ensuring that new communities receive adequate services and infrastructure from the outset. As construction progresses and new residents arrive, the success of this €50 million investment will depend on its ability to deliver on these promises by 2035.
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Originally published by La Vanguardia Barcelona. Read original article.
