Barcelona City Council has secured the free transfer of 62.8 hectares of coastline from the Spanish Ministry of Finance, a move that gives the city control over a 5.2-kilometre stretch from Pepe Rubianes street in Barceloneta to the border with Sant Adrià de Besòs.
The agreement includes the Olympic area, the Fòrum marine platform, and the bathing zones beside them. It updates the last demarcation of the maritime-terrestrial zone, which dates from 2009, and reflects both the opening of the coastline for the 1992 Olympic Games and the municipal investment already made, and planned, for these areas.
Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni said the work is linked to climate adaptation, beach maintenance, and the creation of new green spaces. He also thanked the Spanish Ministry of Finance for agreeing to close the deal after 20 years of negotiations and demands. Spanish Minister of Finance Arcadi España said the transfer hands over a very important part of the coastal façade and allows the closest administration to act first-hand in the area.
The council says the planned coastal transformation will involve more than €100 million in investment over the coming years. Of the 62.8 hectares, about 354,000 square metres are set aside for parks and green spaces, 206,500 for roads, and 68,200 for public facilities. The agreement says these lands will not host profit-making activities.
The transfer does not include commercial spaces that are already operating along the coastline, including the shopping centre, nightlife venues, and the offices of the State Meteorological Agency, AEMET. Several properties sold by the state years ago also remain outside the deal, including a hotel, a petrol station, and a restaurant.
The council and the ministry are still discussing other state-owned properties between Plaça del Mar and the rest of the coast. For more local coverage, see our news page.
