Barcelona, a city celebrated for its vibrant culture and architectural marvels, is grappling with a profound challenge: an ambitious housing plan that promises 26,000 new homes in key urban developments is projected to take at least two decades to materialize. This revelation, stemming from an analysis by elEconomista.es, suggests that the full realization of these projects in areas like La Sagrera and Marina del Prat Vermell will not occur until almost 2050.
The Slow Pace of Progress: A Deep Dive into Barcelona’s Construction Woes
The core of the problem lies in the sluggish pace of construction. Data from the College of Architects of Catalonia indicates that only 1,195 building permits were issued in Barcelona in 2025, encompassing both new constructions and rehabilitations. This figure represents the lowest in a decade, even falling below the levels seen in 2020 when the economy was paralyzed by the Covid-19 crisis. Significantly, about half of these permits were for public housing initiatives promoted by the Municipal Institute of Housing and Rehabilitation (IMHAB).
This crisis extends beyond Barcelona’s city limits to its metropolitan area. Nearby cities such as Sabadell (-50.2%), Terrassa (-37.3%), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat (-35%), and Viladecans (-20.7%) all experienced significant declines in building permits. While some municipalities like Esplugues de Llobregat (+41.3%) and Sitges (+27.2%) saw an increase, their gains were insufficient to offset the overall community’s construction balance, which fell by 7.5% year-on-year to 16,128 properties in 2025.
Regulatory Hurdles and Lack of Support: The Architects’ Perspective
Guillem Costa, dean of Catalan architects, attributes these dismal figures, particularly in Barcelona, to a perceived lack of institutional support and burdensome regulatory pressures. This environment has prompted developers to shift their investments outside the Barcelona perimeter. Furthermore, Barcelona reportedly has less available urbanized land compared to other major Spanish cities like Madrid, Valencia, and Seville.
Costa critically summarized the situation by stating, “There is no desire to promote” in Barcelona. He reiterated his criticism of the mandatory 30% social housing quota for any new construction or major rehabilitation project. This policy, inherited from the previous administration of Ada Colau, has not been rectified by current mayor Jaume Collboni, despite his electoral promises in 2023.
Urban Transformation at a Snail’s Pace: Implications for a Growing City
This challenging context is set to complicate, or at the very least prolong, the plans for new neighborhoods designed to alleviate pressure on the city and accommodate its growing population. In 2025, Barcelona reached a historic record of 1.73 million citizens. Despite the good intentions of public plans, shared by the private sector, the current construction capacity is simply inadequate to deliver new housing units at the required pace.
Adding to these woes is the exodus of construction companies from the region and a shortage of skilled labor, as previously reported. Consequently, any optimism regarding project timelines must be tempered with caution, given the official new construction figures.
The major urban projects envisioned by the city council are concentrated at both ends of the urban fabric. One such project in La Sagrera aims to deliver 13,500 homes, 43% of which will be protected housing, around the future La Sagrera station. This figure is equivalent to a city with a population similar to Martorell.
However, the commencement of construction is not immediate across all areas, with some blocks scheduled for 2029. This includes the upper part of the Rambla de Prim, where 3,360 flats (2,089 public) will only begin construction in that year. Other areas, such as the former Casernes de Santa Andreu and the Mercedes eco-district, are either already under construction or will begin sooner.
This transformation is intended to be complemented by the creation of a neighborhood near the Zona Franca logistics hub: Marina del Prat Vermell. This area is planned to house approximately 28,000 inhabitants in nearly 12,000 homes. Similar to La Sagrera, this monumental task involves the creation of public facilities and commercial and business infrastructure. If fully realized, Marina del Prat Vermell would add 75 residential hectares, equivalent in size to 72 blocks of the Eixample. Here too, the timeline remains imprecise and long-term, although some keys have already been handed over.
Finally, the Barcelona city council has announced other smaller new developments, such as a mini-neighborhood next to the Fira de Barcelona with 500 homes, and potential developments in 22@ Nord and around the new Hospital Clínic.
The Broader Impact: What Does This Mean for Barcelona’s Future?
The protracted delays in Barcelona’s housing projects underscore a critical tension between urban development ambitions and the practicalities of execution. The city’s growth, coupled with its aspiration for sustainable and inclusive urban spaces, demands a more agile and responsive construction sector. The current scenario, marked by regulatory complexities and a perceived lack of political will to address developer concerns, risks undermining these goals.
As Barcelona continues to attract new residents, the inability to deliver housing at a reasonable pace could exacerbate existing housing shortages, drive up prices, and potentially impact the city’s social fabric. The question remains whether the city can overcome these entrenched obstacles to ensure that its urban transformation benefits all its citizens, rather than remaining a distant dream.
