Sant Vicenç dels Horts, Baix Llobregat, has received final approval from the Catalan government's Territorial Urban Planning Commission for a significant modification to the Metropolitan General Plan (PGM) for the South Riverfront. This decision, announced by the Department of Territory, Housing, and Ecological Transition on Monday, marks a major urban transformation for the town.
The plan will complete the urban fabric along the BV-2002 road, creating 139 new homes. Half of these will be protected housing, with commercial ground floors and public facilities included. Of the public housing units, half are designated for rent. The apartment blocks will vary in height, from ground floor plus five storeys down to two storeys.
According to Sílvia Paneque, the Catalan Minister of Territory, this approval helps in “the creation of a new city, with more homes and a mix of uses that will generate a lively environment with opportunities, as well as a quality public space linked to its surroundings.” The planning area covers 3.49 hectares of land. It is bordered by the Valiet shopping centre to the north, agricultural land to the east and south, and the BV-2002 to the west.
Project Details and Local Impact
The project allocates 11,050 square metres for residential use, 1,150 square metres for commercial and tertiary use on ground floors, 2,159 square metres for open spaces, and 879 square metres for public facilities. In terms of mobility, the Generalitat states that the plan “improves communication between municipalities and between the Baix Llobregat Agricultural Park and the urban environment.”
Locally, this project, which also involved collaboration with the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, was initially approved by the municipal plenary three years ago. It received support from the municipal government, comprising the PSC and the Comuns, with Vox abstaining and Junts per Sant Vicenç voting against it. Junts per Sant Vicenç is now known as Fem Sant Vicenç.
While the government argues that the plan will dignify an area currently considered degraded, some opposition parties view it as speculative. They believe it will set a precedent for occupation on Sant Vicenç dels Horts' agricultural facade.
