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331 new affordable rental flats promoted with public support in Barcelona
Barcelona is taking action in response to one of its greatest challenges: access to housing. The city will promote the construction of 331 social-housing flats intended for affordable rent, thanks to financing of 46.7 million euros from the Institut Català de Finances, with a direct impact on thousands of people seeking to remain living in the city.
The new developments will be spread across neighbourhoods undergoing major transformation, such as La Sagrera, Sant Andreu and La Marina del Prat Vermell, where market pressure and the arrival of new residents make it more urgent to expand the supply of affordable rental housing. In total, there will be four projects seeking to balance urban growth and access to housing.
The development forms part of the Habitatge Metròpolis Barcelona (HMB) plan, a company promoted by Área Metropolitana de Barcelona, the City Council and private partner NICRENT. Its aim is ambitious: to manage up to 4,500 protected homes over five years, spread between Barcelona and its metropolitan area.
The key to the model lies in public-private collaboration. The developments retain public ownership of the land, but incorporate shared financing and management to speed up timelines. In addition, support from the Generalitat’s Pla 50.000 will make it possible to subsidise interest for years, facilitating lower and more stable rents.
Since 2018, Institut Català de Finances has mobilised more than 500 million euros for social housing in Catalonia, making thousands of new homes possible. This new push reinforces its role as a strategic tool for intervening in the market.
Beyond the figures, the impact will be visible in everyday life: more options for young people, families and workers, and a slight correction in market pressure. In a city where finding a flat shapes life decisions, each new development adds not only homes but also opportunities to remain in Barcelona and build a life project.