Barcelona City Council has approved the purchase of a property on Espalter Street, in Ciutat Vella, for around €1,320,000. This is its second acquisition of a residential building in less than ten days.
The Barcelona City Council has once again exercised its right of pre-emption and retraction in less than ten days. The Govern Commission has greenlighted the purchase of a property at 6 Espalter Street, in the Ciutat Vella district, which had an active purchase offer.
The building has 655 square meters and eight flats. It is being acquired for €1,320,000, the same sale price, but with the planned rehabilitation, the total cost will rise to two million. The price per square meter stands at €3,408.80, below the average market price and the maximum threshold set by municipal regulations.
“The method of pre-emption and retraction has been, and continues to be in this city, a positive instrument,” stated the Fourth Deputy Mayor, Jordi Valls.
According to the council, the reasons include market pressure in the area and the limited availability of land, as well as the social vulnerability of its residents. Of the seven occupied flats, two are listed in the Rental Housing Stock, and the eighth is vacant.
This vacant flat will be allocated by lottery through the Register of Applicants for Officially Protected Housing, according to the municipal government. The block also has three commercial premises, two rented and one vacant.
The purchase is supported by the pre-emption and retraction ordinance, approved in December 2025 with votes in favour from Comuns and ERC, abstention from Junts, and opposition from PP and Vox. Its aim is to expand the public housing stock in densely populated areas with little land.
Valls reminds us that Barcelona has around 15,000 public flats, which is 2% of the total stock, and aims to reach 15%. Regarding new purchases, he has been cautious: “If we detect any opportunity that addresses vulnerability situations, we will assess it.” He also mentioned other avenues such as mediation by the Síndic de Greuges and SIPHO.
Trending on the web
You may also like
