Barcelona, January 15 – The ambitious urban regeneration project to transform the former Mercedes-Benz factory site in Barcelona’s Bon Pastor neighborhood into a pioneering ‘ecodistrict’ is finally nearing its construction phase. After facing bureaucratic hurdles and delays, the first works are slated to begin by the end of 2026, with the initial 300 homes expected to be ready for occupancy by 2029.
A Delayed but Determined Start for Barcelona’s Eco-district
When initially detailed almost three years ago, the project, envisioned as Barcelona’s first ‘ecodistrict’, was expected to commence construction in 2025 and be completed by 2029. However, the 10.5-hectare site of the former Mercedes-Benz factory and its surrounding esplanade, located near the Besòs river, have remained largely undeveloped. Currently, the vast wasteland is temporarily used for vehicle loading and unloading, but this is set to change soon.
The Barcelona City Council unanimously approved the urban development operation in 2023, under the previous administration of Ada Colau. Since then, the plan has been navigating a complex bureaucratic process. Following some initial objections that further slowed down the procedures, the project is now in its final stages before construction can begin. If no further obstacles arise, the redevelopment could start before the end of 2026, with the first block of 300 homes anticipated to be ready within three years.
Conren Tramway Leads the Transformation
In 2018, the real estate company Conren Tramway acquired the automotive factory, which had been closed since 2007. The company is spearheading the remodeling to create a neighborhood designed as a ‘superilla’ (superblock) from its inception, featuring traffic-free streets and abundant green spaces. Conren Tramway informed EL PERIÓDICO that they expect the definitive approval of the urbanization and re-parceling projects to be resolved in the “second quarter of 2026”. These documents are crucial for defining street layouts and distributing costs for a site that will no longer be walled off and deserted. Barring any new delays, the property anticipates “starting the first construction works by the end of 2026”.
This timeline means that the construction of the Mercedes neighborhood will begin approximately a year and a half later than initially predicted. “In 2023, it was foreseen that the re-parceling could be registered in June 2024 and, consequently, that works would begin during the first half of 2025,” Conren Tramway recalled. However, bureaucratic considerations and slowness disproved this forecast.
The urbanization project has been in a public exhibition phase since late December, preceding the final approval from the city council. The deadline for individuals or entities to request changes to the plan is February 10.
“The definitive approval will depend on whether there are allegations, and of what type; that is, if there are no allegations, it will be quick,” the city council stated. They also indicated that construction and its pace would depend on Conren Tramway, as it is a private initiative promoted by the real estate company. The owner of the plot and project promoter is confident that all works will be completed “from the second half of 2030 onwards.”
Six Phases of Development and Affordable Housing Commitments
Awaiting the green light, Conren Tramway plans to begin the ‘ecodistrict’ by constructing housing units. The project encompasses six construction phases. “The first corresponds to the first block of market-rate housing,” the company noted. If forecasts hold, the development should be completed in just over two years from its commencement. The plot owner stated that the delivery of the first homes is “scheduled for early 2029”. By then, “all urbanization works directly linked to that block, including immediate public spaces, will also have been executed,” they added.
The city council estimated that 40% of the homes in the future ‘ecodistrict’ will be social housing, equating to approximately 520 units out of the total. At least two out of every ten homes – meaning 260 of all those in the Mercedes development – must be offered as affordable rental units. The site, currently filled with vehicles, will eventually house five blocks of market-rate apartments and others for social housing, ranging from four to twelve stories high. Additionally, there will be 9,536 square meters for offices, as well as public facilities and six squares, including one open space that preserves the structure of the inoperative Mercedes factory building.
There is no set date yet for the publicly owned constructions, including the social housing and facilities announced in 2023. These were specified to include a nursery, a vocational training institute, a socio-cultural center, and a memorial space. Nevertheless, Conren Tramway estimates that “the project as a whole will be completed from the second half of 2030 onwards.”
Significant Investment and Environmental Remediation
The property estimates that the investment required to transform the plot into a residential area will amount to approximately 600 million euros. The plan projects that the urbanization of the neighborhood, designed to be resilient to the impacts of climate change, will cost 45.4 million euros.
This budget includes an expenditure of 23.8 million euros for site preparation, paving, utility installation, landscaping, and furniture, among other items. An additional 3.51 million euros will be allocated for the remediation of contaminated soil, a legacy of the site’s industrial past. Furthermore, 4.45 million euros are earmarked for converting the Mercedes building into a semi-covered agora.
One of the buildings to be preserved from the industrial complex, built between the 1950s and 1970s, was initially intended to house the Elisava design school. However, this plan was not realized. Conren Tramway stated that the building is still expected to be used for a “private facility” and confirmed that various options for its occupation are being explored.
Source: elperiodico.com.cat
