According to 2024 data from the Religious Affairs Office, there are 535 places of worship in the city pertaining to 37 religious and spiritual traditions. It is clear, therefore, that Barcelona is a plural, diverse and dynamic city. The religious map of the city, just like its inhabitants, is a dynamic and ever-changing reality. This diversity is represented in all ten districts of the city, but it should be noted that developments for religious use in industrial areas were very restricted until now. With the approval of the amendment to the PGM, this is intended to change, to enable communities to establish themselves in these areas in an orderly and safe manner, and thus respond to the existing reality.

Organic Law 7/1980 on Religious Freedom in article 2.2 recognises the religious freedom and worship guaranteed by the Spanish Constitution and includes the right of churches, denominations and religious communities to establish places of worship and gathering for religious purposes. The framework in which this right is exercised is determined by Law 16/2009 and Decree 94/2010, which establish that city councils must facilitate the establishment of places of worship through urban planning that guarantees the right to religious freedom under conditions of equality.

This amendment to the PGM responds to the need to regulate the establishment of places of worship on industrial land, since the existing regulation does not address the detected need. This amendment affects a specific area in the Bon Pastor industrial estate, in the districts of Sant Martí and Sant Andreu.

The process that must be followed to open a place of worship in the affected area will be the same as the one for opening a place of worship in any other area of ​​the city of Barcelona (more information in Frequently Asked Questions “Opening and registering places of worship”), taking into account that some specific regulations are added regarding the distance between places of worship and permitted capacity, among others.

What are the aims of the amendment?

• To regulate the establishment of religious uses in the entire industrial land area (key 22a) of the industrial estates of the Bon Pastor, La Verneda and La Pau neighbourhoods and their surroundings, in line with the regulation of religious uses in other areas established in the PGM of Barcelona.
• To make the need for land for religious uses compatible with the preservation of industrial land and sufficient economic activity, on land that is limited and with high added value in the municipality of Barcelona.
• To adapt urban planning regulations to the criteria of Law 16/2009 and Decree 94/2010, ensuring urban integration, safety, accessibility and non-segregation of places of worship.

Once the amendment is initially approved…

On 9 December 2025, the amendment to the General Metropolitan Plan was initially approved by the Ecology, Urban Planning, Mobility and Housing Commission. A participatory process has been opened that aims to gather opinions and proposals to define what this regulation should be, in order to guarantee a balance between social needs and the economic development of the territory. Similarly, interested entities and individuals are invited to consult the available materials, follow the updates carried out on the platform and actively participate in the spaces provided.

The participatory process is accessible through the Decidim Barcelona platform, which lists all the structured and updated information related to the MPGM HERE.

What is on the platform?                                

Frequently asked questions:

This section presents basic and essential information for understanding the urban planning process, including:

• The definition and purpose of a Amendment to the General Metropolitan Plan (MPGM).
• The stages and procedures that make up the approval procedure.
• Access to the explanatory video that introduces the content and objectives of the proposal.

Meetings:

This space contains the announcements, materials and proceedings of the sessions held within the framework of the participatory process. The documentation corresponding to the sessions of 24 November 2025 is now available:

• Aimed at religious entities near the Bon Pastor Industrial Estate and its surroundings and significant entities in Barcelona. You will find the information HERE.
• Aimed at neighbourhood and business entities near the Bon Pastor Industrial Estate and its surroundings. You will find the information HERE.

Proposals: These can be submitted HERE.