Barcelona is set to embark on a landmark urban transformation in the district of Sant Andreu, with the city council granting initial approval for an ambitious plan to build up to 65,000 square metres of housing above and around the Westfield La Maquinista shopping centre. The project marks a significant policy shift, prioritising residential development over purely commercial expansion to address the city’s pressing housing needs.

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The Government Commission of the Barcelona City Council has given its preliminary green light to the Urban Improvement Plan for the site. This move unlocks a new chapter for one of the city’s most popular retail destinations, envisioning a mixed-use future where residents live directly above the commercial hub. According to the plan, first reported by Metrópoli Abierta, the project is a direct result of the 2021 Modification of the General Metropolitan Plan, designed to create more dynamic and liveable urban spaces.

A Paradigm Shift for Retail and Housing

In a notable reversal of previous plans, the project will see 15,000 square metres originally earmarked for the shopping centre’s commercial expansion reallocated entirely to housing. The architectural design proposes a clear functional separation: the ground and first floors will retain their retail function, while 47,500 square metres of residential flats will be constructed from the second floor upwards.

This vertical integration is designed to ensure the privacy and tranquility of future residents, who will have exclusive access to underground parking. Despite ceding significant space to housing, the commercial centre is still set for an expansion of 21,000 square metres. This will bring Westfield La Maquinista‘s total surface area to 112,700 square metres, cementing its position as one of the twenty largest shopping centres in Spain.

A Strong Commitment to Social Housing

A key component of the transformation is its substantial commitment to affordable housing. The city’s official housing strategy has heavily influenced the plan, which reserves 35% of the new residential space for social housing. This amounts to a total of 23,000 square metres of officially protected flats.

The majority of this social housing-17,500 square metres-will be built on a large plot on Carrer de Potosí, located opposite the main entrance to the shopping centre. This site, which currently serves as an open-air car park on the border between the Bon Pastor and Baró de Viver neighbourhoods, will become a new residential block dedicated to affordable homes.

The remaining 6,000 square metres of protected housing will be integrated directly into the new blocks built above the shopping centre itself. This approach aims to create a socially mixed community, avoiding the segregation of residents based on income.

The Future of the Surrounding Area

The redevelopment extends beyond the shopping centre’s footprint, promising to reshape the wider urban landscape of this part of Sant Andreu. The intervention on Carrer de Potosí is poised to create a new service hub for the district. A new municipal funeral home is already under construction on the same street, and plans exist for a new Guardia Urbana police station, though construction on the latter is currently postponed without a restart date.

With the initial approval secured, the project now enters a public exhibition period. This will allow for public feedback and objections to be submitted. Following this phase and any necessary technical adjustments, the plan will return to the Government Commission for final approval, which will clear the way for construction to begin on this ambitious remodelling of Barcelona’s urban fabric.