A controversial urban change
The recent proposal by the Barcelona City Council to relocate the fire station in Eixample has unleashed a wave of criticism among local residents. The modification, which aims to move the station to a new site at the intersection of Urgell and Sarrià Avenue, has been provisionally approved by the Urbanism commission, but not without generating intense debate.
30 million euros is the estimated cost to expropriate a local business currently occupying part of the land designated for the new facility. This high price has led the authorities to discard this option, further enraging the residents, who feel their concerns are not being taken into account.
In an attempt to calm the waters, the head of the Barcelona Fire Department, Sebastià Massagué, was presented as a key figure in a meeting with residents. Massagué defended the new location as “the ideal place” to improve emergency response in the area. However, his intervention did not manage to convince everyone; many residents expressed their frustration, pointing out that their objections —over 1,600— have not been adequately addressed.
The Director of Planning Services, Anton Carpio, assured that each objection will be responded to individually once the plan is provisionally approved. This strategy has been seen as a political maneuver rather than a genuine commitment to the residents' concerns.
Despite the widespread discontent, the municipal government promises to compensate for the loss of the current green space with two new interior blocks that will be developed between 2031 and 2032. These public spaces will add 4,050 m² designated for green areas in locations near Urgell and London.
Although ERC and BComú have shown their support for the project under certain conditions —such as the calming of the Comte Borrell stretch— many residents remain sceptical about whether these promises will truly be fulfilled or if they are just empty words meant to placate criticism.
As the deadline approaches to ratify this urban plan in the plenary session on April 24, it is clear that tensions between the City Council and residents will continue to grow. With a final approval expected in 2027 and implementation scheduled for 2031, many wonder if this project will truly benefit the neighbourhood or if it will only bring more problems.
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