Barcelona City Council handed over the keys to the first 60 affordable rental flats in the La Marina del Prat Vermell neighbourhood on Saturday. These homes are part of the Illa Acer development, which will eventually include 234 properties, making it the city's second-largest housing project, according to the council.
The remaining 174 flats are expected to be delivered throughout 2026. The Illa Acer homes vary in size from 43.31 to 78.85 square metres and feature one to three bedrooms, a bathroom, a combined living-kitchen-dining area, a hallway, and a balcony. Rental prices range from €401.20 to €789.29, with an additional €35 monthly for community fees and property tax (IBI).
Funding and Features of Illa Acer
The Municipal Housing Institute of Barcelona (IMHAB) spearheaded the Illa Acer project, investing €32.8 million, with funding also provided by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda. Of the 234 flats in the development, 172 are designated for affordable rental, while 62 operate under a surface rights regime. The properties are distributed across two blocks and five stairwells.
The Illa Acer complex, built by the temporary union of companies Aybar Mateos and Borrell-Jover, also includes extensive parking facilities. There are 77 car parking spaces, 12 of which are adapted, along with 54 spaces for motorcycles and 256 for bicycles. A central garden with trees provides a green space for residents.
Allocations and Transport Improvements
Following standard practice for protected housing developments, Barcelona City Council has reserved specific allocations within Illa Acer. Forty flats are for local residents, 16 for single-parent families, 48 for individuals under 35 years old, and 12 for people requiring adapted housing, officials said.
In a related development, the TMB bus line V5 will extend its route to the new housing development starting Monday, 27 April. This extension aims to improve public transport access for the new residents. Since Collboni's mandate began in 2023, the city council has delivered 1,847 homes, according to municipal figures.
