Barcelona City Council will launch a comprehensive surveillance programme across twenty municipally-owned plots in the Sant Andreu district to combat illegal settlements.
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The council has put a two-year security service contract out to tender with a base budget of €177,563. This initiative aims to prevent the occupation and re-occupation of vacant land, directly addressing local residents’ growing concerns about crime and insecurity.
This decision follows a municipal report which, according to Metrópoli Abierta, identified an “urgent need” for preventive measures. Residents in neighbourhoods like La Sagrera have raised alarms about the chronic nature of some settlements, citing thefts and vehicle fires as significant problems.
The Surveillance Plan in Detail
The new service will act as a deterrent. Bids for the contract are due by 11 March, and the surveillance work is expected to begin in April 2024, running for two years. The plan mandates a proactive approach to securing the plots.
Security personnel will conduct systematic visual inspections, carrying out patrols that cover all twenty designated sites within a minimum five-hour period. Their primary role is to monitor the areas and report any incidents immediately to municipal services.
If an active attempt to occupy a plot occurs, guards will immediately alert the Guàrdia Urbana, Barcelona’s municipal police force, who will then carry out an express eviction. To ensure accountability, the security team must produce a detailed report after each patrol, complete with photographic evidence of their inspections and findings.
Key Areas Under Watch
Surveillance will cover a wide swathe of the Sant Andreu district, focusing on particularly vulnerable areas or those with a history of conflicts.
Prominent among these are plots surrounding the future high-speed La Sagrera station on Carrer de Josep Soldevila, a site that has been a point of contention for local residents. The Casernes de Sant Andreu area on Carrer de Palomar is another key location, earmarked for development where the council plans to build 69 homes for senior citizens.
The patrols will also monitor land near important community facilities, including the area behind the CAP Sagrera health centre, in front of the Biblioteca La Sagrera – Marina Clotet, and next to Sant Andreu Comtal station. Land near the Sant Andreu-Sagrera and Institut Doctor Puigvert secondary schools is also on the list.
The operation extends into other neighbourhoods, including the surroundings of the Baró de Viver football ground, the car park by the Escola 30 Passos, and areas within the Bon Pastor neighbourhood. The site of the former Trinitat Vella prison, once it is demolished, and the end of Carrer de Torné will also fall under the new security watch.
A Proactive Strategy for Urban Security
The council’s strategy represents a clear shift towards preventing illegal occupations before they become entrenched, thereby avoiding long-term social and security issues. By establishing a constant, visible presence, authorities hope to deter potential squatters and reassure the local community.
This focused effort in Sant Andreu reflects a broader municipal concern with public space management and civic order. It parallels other recent initiatives across the city, such as the special cleaning plan launched in Ciutat Vella to tackle grime and odour, and concerns over neglected green spaces and the spread of illegal gardens in Horta. Ultimately, this new surveillance aims to improve public safety and maintain civility in a rapidly developing part of Barcelona.
