Revised Plans for Central Catalonia Government Hub
Albert Dalmau, Minister for the Presidency of the Generalitat, announced on Thursday 15 October that the planned government headquarters in Manresa will no longer include a second underground floor originally intended for parking. The decision, made following a working meeting with Mayor Marc Aloy, aims to reduce construction costs, minimise disruption to the surrounding area, and accelerate completion to 2029. The building, part of a broader urban regeneration effort in Manresa’s historic centre, will house decentralised government services and a new Citizen Service Office (OAC). It will be constructed on the site of the former courthouse, a listed 18th-century building. According to the Ajuntament de Manresa, the project has a budget of €20.64 million and will span 7,473 square metres of usable space.
New School and Housing Regeneration Plans
Dalmau also confirmed that a funding agreement for the new Valldaura School is expected to be signed before the end of 2026, with the facility scheduled to open for the 2028–2029 academic year. The current school has operated in temporary prefabricated units for 17 years due to classroom overcrowding. Mayor Aloy highlighted the city’s commitment to urban renewal through the Pla de Barris, a programme backed by €25 million in public funding over 2026–2030, half of which comes from the Generalitat. The plan aims to mobilise over €9 million in private investment for housing rehabilitation in the historic core. Specific grant lines, including those for technical building works and accessibility improvements, are now active under the official call published by the Diputació de Barcelona.
Security and Sports Infrastructure Updates
On public safety, Aloy noted that Manresa’s Municipal Guard will add 20 new officers within two years, while Dalmau confirmed that the Mossos d’Esquadra have reached a strength of 25,000 officers across Catalonia. Interior Minister Núria Parlon will attend the next Local Security Board meeting in Manresa. Dalmau also announced that the Generalitat intends to lead the redevelopment of the Nou Congost sports complex, aiming to finalise a collaboration protocol with the city council and begin tendering the executive project next year, drawing on funding from the State Administration and the Barcelona Provincial Council.
This is a historic opportunity to revitalise the historic centre. We are facing a train we cannot let pass.
Primary sources: cido.diba.cat, participa311-manresa.diba.cat, govern.cat. Reported by regio7.cat, manresa.cat, manresadigital.com, naciodigital.cat, laciutat.cat, Regió 7.
