Barcelona City Council has launched a unique €50 million investment plan for the La Marina neighbourhood in the Sants-Montjuïc district, running until 2028. This initiative aims to guide the area's urban transformation and improve the quality of life for residents, according to officials on 14 May 2026.
The plan, one of two singular projects under Barcelona's 2025-2028 Neighbourhood Plan, will direct the development of La Marina del Prat Vermell and La Marina del Port over the next decade. While the Neighbourhood Plan provides a direct €9 million injection for short-term projects, the total public investment in the area will reach €50 million within the same period.
La Marina is undergoing a significant shift from an industrial and warehouse area to a mixed urban fabric, with around 30,000 new residents expected. The plan seeks to ensure current and future inhabitants have access to adequate services, public spaces, facilities, and mobility options, capitalising on growth opportunities while minimising potential negative impacts.
Shaping La Marina's Future
Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni explained that the plan aims to "reconnect what will be one of the great neighbourhoods of the future, and of Barcelona in 2035." He added that the city is "guaranteeing the right to stay with the promotion of public housing, and with a liveable environment, especially with climatic criteria and in the field of mobility."
Collboni outlined the plan's three main objectives: "to mend, structure, and connect the neighbourhoods of La Marina del Port and La Marina del Prat Vermell, and to promote an urban transformation that impacts the improvement of employment initiatives." He also stated the goal is to resolve potential inequalities as the neighbourhood develops and to establish it as a hub for economic development and job creation.
The plan focuses on urban-environmental, educational, and socioeconomic aspects, seeking to create a shared strategy between municipal, supramunicipal, and neighbourhood stakeholders. Key actions include the transformation of Passeig de la Zona Franca into a civic axis, activation of public ground floors for local commerce, construction of protected housing, and a strong commitment to post-compulsory education and quality employment.
Key Transformation Projects
One major project is the reurbanisation of Passeig de la Zona Franca. This aims to change the perception of the street from a mere thoroughfare to a central part of a system of spaces that connects La Marina. The reform will organise circulation areas, provide more pedestrian space, create community hubs, preserve its commercial character, and increase urban greenery.
In terms of public housing, most of the intervention in La Marina involves new construction, particularly in La Marina del Prat Vermell. Over twenty buildings are in various stages of study, project drafting, and construction, set to be rolled out over the next decade. These will offer different housing access models, including affordable rent, surface rights, and social rent. This figure also includes protected housing in private developments, mainly in Prat Vermell. Beyond new housing, public initiatives also plan to rehabilitate existing housing stock in La Marina del Port.
Education and Employment Initiatives
The plan also seeks to increase post-compulsory education options, aiming to retain talent and students within the neighbourhood. La Marina's location, with vocational training centres like Institut Mare de Déu de la Mercè and Institut d'Arts Gràfiques nearby, and a growing business sector, makes it ideal for linking education to the city's productive fabric. The plan's socio-educational objectives focus on creating training opportunities that improve employability and providing comprehensive support for students transitioning through education and staying in higher studies.
Historically, La Marina has been a centre for economic activity. The presence of major economic players such as Fira de Barcelona and Port de Barcelona, alongside a growing technology sector, makes it an attractive area for generating quality employment. To achieve this, the plan aims to strengthen the link between the economic fabric and the territory, enhance residents' professional skills for quality local employment, and reinforce relationships with major economic hubs.
Moving forward, the plan also proposes promoting the social return of large economic operators surrounding La Marina, encouraging greater involvement in the neighbourhood's development and cohesion. This includes activating public ground floors with local commercial activity to revitalise street life and support small businesses.
