Manresa, in Central Catalonia, has opened a new local office for the Pla de Barris i Viles de Catalunya 2025-2029 in its historic centre. The office, on Santa Llúcia street, is intended as a point of contact for residents and businesses seeking information and support for the regeneration plan.
Mayor Marc Aloy presented the office on 3 June and described it as “an important office for an important project”. He said the facility will cost €1 million over five years, with funding split equally between the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Diputació de Barcelona. The Diputació’s share comes through a specific aid programme for the six municipalities, plus Barcelona, included in the Pla de Barris.
The office is run by Forum, Manresa’s municipal housing company. Forum prepared the space and hired the first five staff members, although that number may change depending on demand, according to Aloy. Mateu Baylina, the municipal society’s manager, also attended the opening.
The office is at Santa Llúcia street, number 21, and is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 2pm. A QR code at the entrance gives access to information about the Pla de Barris. The 50-square-metre space, formerly used by an RCD Espanyol fan club, includes a reception area, a workspace for four people, an office, a toilet and a small kitchen. Extra space on the floor above could be used if needed.
Aloy said the Pla de Barris is “the most strategic and important commitment to the Historic Centre”. The plan has a total budget of €25 million, with 50% set aside for housing policies. Of that, €10 million is for housing rehabilitation aid in the historic centre, and the new office will guide people who want to apply.
Eligible projects include work on facades and roofs, improvements to communal areas in residential buildings, upgrades to social premises used by local entities, and the renovation or opening of new businesses. The office will provide technical advice and support throughout the application process. Manresa was confirmed as a participant in the Pla de Barris on 2 March, and Aloy said the city is moving quickly compared with other municipalities. The aim is to have the aid guidelines ready before summer and to open the official call for applications in autumn.
For background on the wider scheme, see the news coverage on Catalan News. More information on the programme is available from the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Diputació de Barcelona.
