Homes for the future
Since the global financial crisis of 2007, rising unemployment and job insecurity in Barcelona have led to falling household incomes. A significant proportion of the city’s 1.6 million population are living on low or very low incomes. Two recently completed housing developments, partially funded by the CEB, are providing affordable, energy-efficient homes.
A significant proportion of the city’s social housing stock also predates energy-efficiency regulations that require adequate thermal insulation. Living in cold or damp properties means families are forced to spend a large proportion of their income on heating their homes – costs that are too high for many, creating the problem of ‘energy poverty’.
A plan for change
Believing that decent housing is a basic human right, in January 2017, Barcelona’s City Council of Barcelona approved its ‘2016-2025 Right to Housing Plan’, which aimed to address the city’s housing emergency by increasing the public stock of affordable flats. The target is to build close to 9,000 social housing units in the next ten years.
In September 2017, the CEB approved a €59 million programme loan to Institut Municipal de l’habitatge e rehabilitatio de Barcelona (former Patronat Municipal de l’Habitatge de Barcelona), the Council’s housing body, to partially finance the construction of more than 2,000 social housing units. Additional funding was provided by the City of Barcelona and the European Investment Bank.
The new developments are being constructed to the latest building and energy-efficiency standards, and are taking shape in nine of the ten districts of Barcelona. This will help to positively impact social cohesion in the city.
Social housing & Barcelona City Council at a glance:
· Since 2015 the Council is building nearly 4,607 units and completed 18 developments
· 24 developments are currently under construction
· 31 are at the planning and design stages
Close up on new developments
In November 2020 two newly completed developments, constructed with funding support from the CEB, were launched. These provide a total of 48 affordable rental homes and will house some 270 people.
- Via Augusta: 13 homes
Via Augusta, in the Sarrià district provides five three-bedroom units and eight two-bedroom units. The façade has a gallery-style design for privacy and to reduce street noise. The building design uses the latest heating, hot water and ventilation systems.
- Germanetes LLS:
30 homes
This building at 159 Comte Borrell Street, is in the Eixample district. Its 35 units, 30 for affordable housing and 5 for social emergencies. All units offer two bedrooms.
“By
financing housing projects in high-rent regions such as Barcelona, CEB
increases the availability of affordable housing while improving living
conditions for those who cannot afford to pay their rent and are poorly
housed,” said Maria Siguenza, the CEB’s Country Manager for Spain.
Commenting on the launch of the new developments, Xavier Gonzalez, Financial Director of Institut Municipal de l’habitatge e rehabilitatio de Barcelona, said:
“Thanks to the CEB loan, Institut Municipal de l’habitatge e rehabilitatio de Barcelona can ensure the construction of quality, energy efficiency and rent affordable dwellings, for low-income households in the city of Barcelona.”