€25 Million Plan Approved for Manresa’s Historic Centre

Manresa is set to invest €25 million in the revitalisation of its historic centre, with half the funding, €12.5 million, provided by the Generalitat and the remainder by the Ajuntament de Manresa. The investment forms part of the Pla de Barris i Viles 2025–2029, a Catalan government initiative aimed at regenerating disadvantaged urban areas. On 26 February 2026, the Conselleria de Territori, Habitatge i Transició Ecològica formally approved the allocation to Manresa under the first call of the programme.

Focus on Housing, Accessibility and Community

The project targets the historic core, an area encompassing multiple blocks and streets in the old town, including Carrer Sant Miquel, Sobrerroca, Born and Urgell. It will prioritise physical transformation, ecological transition, and community action. Key initiatives include:

  • Rehabilitation of housing stock, particularly buildings with complex legal or administrative challenges
  • Improving accessibility and replacing outdated water metering systems
  • Establishing a Local Office for the Pla de Barris at Carrer Santa Llúcia
  • Introducing prepaid food voucher cards for vulnerable residents

Half of the total budget, €12.5 million, is dedicated specifically to housing rehabilitation.

We are facing a real, historic opportunity to reactivate the historic centre.

This statement was made by Manresa mayor Marc Aloy following approval of the proposal, which he described as “a maximum bid” under the scheme. The town had submitted its application during the final submission window in late 2025, aiming for full eligibility under the regional plan.

Implementation Underway

The municipal council has begun establishing the administrative framework needed to manage the funds. At its most recent plenary session, councillor for finance Pere Massegú announced the initial approval of budget allocations required to launch the housing rehabilitation subsidy lines. These subsidies will be governed by forthcoming regulatory bases still pending formal adoption. The interventions will concentrate along a central spine stretching from Plaça Hospital in the east to Plaça Valldaura in the west, focusing efforts on high-footfall public spaces. Residents and property owners will be able to access advisory services through the new Local Office of the Pla de Barris. Further details on eligibility and application procedures will be published via the Ajuntament’s official portal.

The wider Pla de Barris programme selected 20 municipalities from 83 applications. Manresa’s inclusion reflects the urgency of addressing building decay, population decline, and economic stagnation in its historic core.

Primary sources: eb.gencat.cat, govern.cat, territori.gencat.cat, Agència de Residus de Catalunya. Reported by naciodigital.cat, Jordi Morros, Regió7, Francesc Galindo, manresa.cat, eb.manresa.cat, Gemma Camps, Darío Portela, Regió 7.