Lleida City Council has approved its new Municipal Urban Planning Plan (POUM) with 18 votes in favour from the Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSC) government and the municipal groups of Junts and the People's Party (PP). This decision, made on 30 April 2026, marks a significant moment for the urban development of the Segrià capital.
The plan anticipates the construction of up to 34,000 new homes, a substantial portion of which will be affordable, according to Begoña Iglesias, City Management Councillor. It also includes provisions for preserving the Horta agricultural area, increasing green spaces, and expanding industrial land. Currently, only 11,000 square metres are available at the Torre Solé industrial estate, a shortage the new plan seeks to resolve.
Councillor Iglesias stated the government expects to approve the POUM during the current mandate. She warned that any failure to implement it would be due to political obstruction rather than technical issues. The document incorporates urban proposals from Junts and the PP, such as unblocking the Pla de l'Estació project and reorganising Turó de Gardeny.
Political Support and Criticisms
PP spokesperson Xavi Palau strongly defended the plan, saying it was 'now or never' for the city. Palau highlighted that the plan addresses housing, industrial land, and revises urban priorities, correcting most of the objections from a previous 2018 proposal that failed. He added that the technical reasons supporting the POUM make it difficult to reject politically.
Esquerra Republicana maintained a critical abstention, with spokesperson Jordina Freixanet arguing the plan focuses on 'square metres, but not people'. She criticised the plan as being agreed with right-wing parties and lacking an adequate participatory process. Freixanet asserted that 'Lleida cannot grow with a 20th-century outlook' and called for a new document to truly decide how the city should grow.
Junts per Lleida expressed satisfaction with the initial approval. Their spokesperson, Violant Cervera, noted the document addresses their main demands: affordable housing, parking, industrial land, and recognition of the Horta's unique character. Junts particularly welcomed the inclusion of a definitive solution for the Pla de l'Estació, based on their group's proposals.
During the debate, a tense exchange occurred between Cervera and Freixanet. When the Esquerra councillor criticised the POUM for being agreed with right-wing parties, Cervera responded, 'I am a social democrat, but if you say you are left-wing, then I would not be.'
Future Growth Model
Vox councillors justified their abstention by stating the plan does not align with their vision for the city's future or present. Comú de Lleida cast the sole vote against the proposal. The ecosocialist party believes the plan centres on growth in all areas, representing an 'obsolete' urban development idea from the last century. Comú criticised the plan for focusing solely on expansion without prioritising more sustainable urban models.
The POUM's approval marks a significant step for Lleida, setting the framework for its urban and economic development in the coming years. The next stages will involve further technical reviews and public consultation before final implementation.
