Urban Planning, Ecological Transition, Urban Services and Housing

The Commission for Ecology, Urban Planning, Infrastructures and Mobility has approved an amendment to the Metropolitan General Plan to implement new spatial planning in the areas around La Maquinista shopping centre. The change will limit commercial growth to half, with the other half used for housing, services, facilities and local establishments.

The main changes to the general plan (approved in January 2015) are:

• Reduction to 50% for the growth of the shopping centre. Of the 42,000 m² planned, the figure now drops to 21.000 m².
• The space gained will be shared between additional protected and open market housing, offices, coworking centres, gyms and local commercial establishments. The changes also leave an option for reducing the commercial building space further still, transferring up to 10,000 m² to the Barcelona Glòries shopping centre.
• 40% of new housing to be officially protected. The amended plan adds 15,000 m² for housing, 40% of which will be for protected housing. As a result, there will be 65,000 m² for this purpose (up to 812 flats may be built, 294 of them protected).
• Reduction in the maximum height of blocks of flats, which will be 17 floors, with local commerce in the ground-floor premises. The tallest blocks will be on street corners, with the rest to match surrounding building heights.
• Introduction of the land in Carrer de Potosí, adjacent to the shopping area, to be used for public housing (a total of 218 protected flats).
• More facilities and new public space. The shopping centre will be separated from the school through the creation of a plot for a public facility of 2,466 m^2, allowing the school to expand if necessary. Parking will be located below ground at the site of La Maquinista.

Besides the amendment to the general plan and the Urban Improvement Plan (PMU), approved by the Government Commission on 22 September, a new model is also planned to foster sustainable mobility and reduce parking. The 860 parking spaces will be offered on two underground floors, representing 1,200 fewer than those stipulated in 2015.