The Catalan Institute of Finance (ICF) has provided €46.7 million in loans to Habitatge Metròpolis Barcelona, S.A. (HMB) for the construction of 331 affordable rental homes in Barcelona. These protected social rental properties will be part of four developments across the Sant Andreu, La Sagrera, and La Marina del Prat Vermell neighbourhoods.
HMB is the metropolitan operator for affordable rental housing, aiming to build and manage a public housing stock of 4,500 protected homes in the metropolitan area over the next five years. Half of these homes will be in Barcelona city, with the remaining 50% in other municipalities within the Barcelona metropolitan area.
HMB is a mixed company formed by the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB), Barcelona City Council, and NICRENT Residencial, which is owned by NEINOR HOMES and CEVASA. This public-private collaboration works to increase the number of protected housing units and maintain public ownership of land in Barcelona and its metropolitan area.
New Developments Across Barcelona
The four protected housing developments financed by the ICF are currently under construction. These include 104 homes in La Sagrera, 108 homes in Sant Andreu, and two developments in La Marina del Prat Vermell, with 56 and 63 homes respectively. These projects already receive aid from the Catalan government's Pla 50.000, which includes a 1.5% interest rate bonus for the first 20 years.
Since 2018, the ICF has helped create 5,581 social rental homes across Catalonia, financing projects for the acquisition and development of protected housing with a total of €516 million. This funding supports the expansion of affordable housing options for residents.
In addition to the four Barcelona developments, HMB is building three more projects in the metropolitan area, totalling 185 homes. These include two developments in Montgat, with 58 and 71 homes, and 56 homes in Sant Adrià de Besòs. These initiatives show a continued effort to address housing needs across the wider region.
