Neighbourhood associations urge the Barcelona City Council to honour a commitment made nearly two decades ago. They demand the construction of hundreds of new homes and community facilities as part of the vast Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes redevelopment.

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During an open assembly this week, residents’ groups from the surrounding neighbourhoods of Clot-Camp de l’Arpa, Sagrada Família, Poblenou, and Fort Pienc voiced deep frustration. They cited the project’s sluggish pace, calling for the accelerated construction of 762 pending homes and the delivery of many promised public facilities.

“Everything is going too slowly,” stated Miquel Catasús of the Clot-Camp de l’Arpa Neighbourhood Association, according to a report by El Periódico. He added, “The council often gives the impression that everything is practically done because we have part of the park… but that’s not true.”

A Two-Decade Wait for Housing

The original agreement, signed in 2007, envisioned a comprehensive transformation of the Glòries area-a critical junction where major city arteries like Avinguda Diagonal and Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes meet. While the central park is partially complete and well-used, residents argue that the housing and facilities components remain severely neglected.

The associations have identified a significant shortfall of 762 homes across several planned developments. Specifically, 562 flats are designated for the block where the streets Castillejos, Consell de Cent, Cartagena, and Diagonal converge. Other pending units include 112 homes at 771 Gran Via and a further 88 split between Bolívia 5-9 and Pamplona 119.

Crucially, the groups demand that the maximum number of these new homes be classified as officially protected housing (VPO) and offered for rent. This demand follows a new survey revealing 8 in 10 Barcelona residents find housing unaffordable and regional prices have broken pre-crash records.

“On municipal properties, another 300 to 400 flats could be built,” estimated Catasús.

Gabriel Mercadal, president of the Sagrada Família Neighbourhood Association, went further, proposing, “It could be up to 700 officially protected rental homes.” He stressed, “The fight is for there to be as many as possible.”

Facilities Lag Far Behind

The frustration extends beyond housing. According to the neighbourhood associations, of the 16 public facilities promised in the 2007 plan, only five have been completed. They also highlight a perceived imbalance in funding, estimating approximately €150 million allocated to “city-level” projects, compared to just €25 million for more local, “neighbourhood-level” amenities.

Several key projects remain stalled or are moving at a glacial pace. These include:

  • The conversion of the old Fàbrica del Sucre on Carrer Cartagena into a space for youth, a multi-purpose hall, and a home for the Castellers de la Sagrada Família.
  • The permanent building for the Escola Gaia, which is currently housed in temporary modules. Its opening has reportedly been pushed back from the 2027-2028 school year to 2028-2029.
  • A planned nursing home on Carrer Independència.
  • A health clinic on Carrer Bolívia and a sports centre on Meridiana.

“Demolitions have happened, some construction has started, and some things are getting done, but it’s progressing very slowly,” lamented Mercadal.

A Plan Approaching its 20th Anniversary

While acknowledging the success of the completed section of the Glòries park, which they deem “necessary,” the community groups stress that a third of the green space still needs developing. The core issue remains the timeline. A project initially planned for 10 years now approaches its 20th anniversary, with a vast amount of work still outstanding.

This slow progress contrasts sharply with regional and municipal efforts to tackle the housing shortage. For instance, Catalonia recently introduced a new €1.9 billion housing budget, and Barcelona expanded its free legal housing aid.

The sentiment among residents is one of profound impatience. As Miquel Catasús concluded, “The commitment for Glòries was supposed to be done in 10 years. Next year will be 20 years since it was signed. At this rate, and if things go well, we’ll reach 30 years, and with a lack of will, we’ll go to 40… This cannot be.”