The Catalan government has announced the revival of the Pla de Barris urban renewal initiative, originally launched between 2004 and 2010, with a planned investment of €1 billion over the next five years, extending to 2029. This initiative, under the leadership of President Salvador Illa, aims to address urgent social needs in numerous disadvantaged neighborhoods across various municipalities.

The Pla de Barris will focus on a comprehensive approach to rehabilitating public spaces and aging housing, alongside the development of educational and cultural facilities, and implementing social policies to enhance community living conditions.

The primary objectives include addressing conflicts arising from resource scarcity, community issues, and an aging population.

The government emphasizes that impactful resources must be concentrated in selected neighborhoods to drive significant change.

Each participating municipality will take the lead on their respective projects, working in conjunction with the Generalitat and contributing an additional €600 million.

The provincial governments will cover between 50% to 75% of total project costs, depending on the size of the municipality, with smaller towns contributing less to the funding.

Illa presented this initiative to an audience of mayors and councilors in Vilanova i la Geltrú and mentioned the necessity for the government to seek additional funding strategies should the proposed budgets not be approved in the Parliament.

Each annual call is expected to mobilize €200 million.

The first application round is scheduled for July, with guaranteed financing, allowing municipalities to submit their plans.

The Catalan government aims to commence the initial phase of investments by 2026.

To qualify for the Pla de Barris, a neighborhood must have a per capita income below the average for Catalonia, currently estimated at €15,000 annually, and this figure will be periodically updated.

The initiative, led by Carles Martí from the Department of Territory, is structured around three main pillars.

The first pillar focuses on housing rehabilitation, as much of the residential stock, built over 40 to 50 years ago, requires significant improvements.

Many neighborhoods grappling with social conflict have a high percentage of dwellings in poor condition.

One goal is to enhance these residences' adaptation to climate change.

Municipal contributions will vary in relation to the size of selected towns across the five consecutive calls for proposals through 2029. After selection, municipalities will have five years to execute their investment plans.

The initiative aims to support neighborhoods facing significant challenges, often categorized as experiencing social emergencies.

In addition to improving housing and urban spaces, which include streets, plazas, parks, and public facilities, there is an emphasis on fostering social cohesion.

Projects are required to propose initiatives that promote community life, local commerce, and a sense of belonging while addressing vulnerabilities.

The initiative also intends to include a diverse array of disadvantaged areas, ranging from historic centers to neighborhoods with dense residential construction from the 1960s, as well as outskirts and peri-urban zones.

To ensure territorial equity, each annual call will necessitate at least one project per administrative region.

The Catalan government is committed to ensuring that the Pla de Barris extends beyond the current legislative term, aiming for its application over the next ten to twelve years, with benefits for approximately 120 municipalities, translating to 20 to 25 neighborhoods per call.

Between 2004 and 2010, investments totaling €1.9 billion were made across 140 neighborhoods, half of which was contributed by the municipalities.

Additionally, the government is focused on encouraging private investment in disadvantaged neighborhoods to support local commerce, vital for mitigating urban decay.