Rural revitalisation efforts across Catalonia are set to receive a significant boost with the government’s plan to recover 400 unused buildings in depopulated areas.
The ambitious initiative, announced this weekend, forms part of the recently approved Rural Municipalities Statute designed to combat population decline in smaller communities.
President Salvador Illa and four ministers revealed the details during a meeting with over 300 mayors and municipal representatives at Món Sant Benet in Sant Fruitós de Bages.
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The centrepiece of the announcement involves €20 million in grants specifically targeted at rehabilitating both vacant private homes and abandoned public buildings across 608 rural municipalities.
Rural Revitalisation Through Housing Rehabilitation
The government will cover part of the renovation costs, while property owners must commit to renting out the rehabilitated buildings as affordable housing for ten years. This approach directly supports the territorial housing plan, which aims to ensure 1.3% of primary residences become affordable rental properties within two decades.
Furthermore, the plan includes creating a rural housing exchange and establishing a new service within the Catalan Land Institute to assist municipalities with urban planning procedures. This support system will also collaborate on rehabilitating unused buildings, providing crucial technical assistance to smaller communities that may lack specialised resources.
The measures come as part of broader efforts to address housing accessibility challenges affecting various parts of Catalonia. Meanwhile, the Rural Municipalities Statute primarily targets towns with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants located in regions experiencing low population density or negative population growth.
According to the government’s announcement, additional incentives include tax deductions for relocating primary residences to rural municipalities. These financial benefits, along with tax relief measures for young people and families, will apply to income tax declarations from 2027 onward.
The success of this comprehensive rural revitalisation strategy, however, ultimately depends on budget approval. The government has yet to begin negotiations for next year’s finances, with coalition partners ERC and Comuns pressing for prior commitments on funding and housing to be honoured before budget discussions commence.
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