The Government of Salvador Illa and the Comunes have registered a bill to increase buildability in pressured municipalities like Barcelona and its metropolitan area, aiming to accelerate the construction of social housing.
The Government of Salvador Illa and the Comunes registered this Friday in the Parliament a bill that allows for increased buildability in municipalities with a pressured housing market, such as Barcelona and its metropolitan area, to boost the construction of social housing (VPO). This measure, which is part of the budget agreement for 2026, is temporary and exceptional, and will be in effect until 2030, with the possibility of extension.
The Minister of Territory, Sílvia Paneque, has defended the initiative, stating that "we are living in a moment of residential emergency that requires more capacity for action, more cooperation with all institutions, and less time between planning and execution of works." The proposal aims to expedite the construction of affordable housing without the need to modify urban planning.
Among the highlighted measures, it allows for a 20% increase in residential buildability, even exceeding the regulatory height, to construct VPO on land or buildings designated for tertiary use such as offices, hotels, and private parking structures, provided that the new homes occupy at least 50% of the built surface. It also includes the conversion of ground-floor commercial premises into VPO, with a minimum area of 50 square meters, as long as the corresponding municipality agrees.
Another new feature is the possibility of subdividing large apartments and converting offices into social housing, with a minimum area of 50 square meters. In the case of subdivision, the new home must be protected, and when it comes to a change of use, the entire transformed area must be allocated to VPO. Additionally, it will be allowed to build VPO on plots that currently do not meet minimum building conditions, as long as they meet habitability requirements.
The proposal also foresees adding new floors designated for VPO in buildings that have already exhausted their buildability but have available height. These extensions cannot exceed the actual height of the party walls of adjacent buildings. To ensure public protection, if the building is demolished and a new one is constructed, it must incorporate the same number of protected homes.
The initiative has been well received by the municipalities in the metropolitan area of Barcelona, which see these measures as a tool to increase the stock of affordable housing in their municipalities. However, some sectors have expressed caution regarding the potential impact on urban density and the quality of life of residents.
The agreement between PSC and Comunes is part of the negotiation for the Generalitat's Budgets for 2026, and the bill will be processed in the Parliament in the coming months. It is expected that the measures can be applied immediately once approved, without the need to modify local urban plans.
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