Around 70 mayors from rural municipalities across Catalonia are demanding a deep reform of the Urban Planning Law to better suit their territories and combat depopulation. Mayors from Empordà, Vallès, Tarragona regions, and Central Catalonia met yesterday in Puigverd d'Agramunt, Urgell, driven by the Eines de Repoblament Rural (Tools for Rural Repopulation) lobby. They want to push for urban changes at a critical time for rural areas, which have increased institutional pressure in recent years to reverse population loss and ensure a viable future for their villages.
This meeting follows the approval of the Rural Municipalities Statute, the first law from Salvador Illa's government. Local representatives hope this gathering will advance their demands. The focus is on a major issue for small municipalities: a lack of housing. According to local officials, the current legal framework, designed mainly for large cities, makes it hard to create new residential and economic opportunities in rural areas. Many of these villages have fewer technical and financial resources but must meet the same urban planning demands as big cities. This, they claim, slows down or blocks potentially key projects.
Reforming Legislation for Rural Needs
The 67 mayors who met in Puigverd d'Agramunt are asking for specific measures to make regulations more flexible and adapt them to rural realities. One proposal is to reform legislation to allow existing buildings on rustic land, such as farms, abandoned warehouses, or other structures, to be converted into permanent homes.
Another proposal is to allow the expansion of existing buildings' habitable square metres through municipal licences. This would apply not only to residential use but also to artisan activities, agroforestry processing, or social facilities. The Catalan government shares the mayors' concerns and will call a meeting next week with municipal entities to "move in this direction," according to executive sources.
Jaume Gilabert, coordinator of Eines de Repoblament Rural and mayor of Montgai, says the current law is "a burden" for small municipalities. Speaking to EL PERIÓDICO, Gilabert argued that more flexible regulation would "boost housing and economic activity, and with that, retain the population." He also pointed out that the lack of housing directly causes depopulation, especially among young people. They often have to move to nearby cities because of the lack of residential options in their home villages.
Looking ahead, the proposed reforms aim to give rural areas the tools they need to thrive. The government's willingness to meet with municipal entities suggests a path forward for these changes. The outcome of these discussions will be key to determining how Catalonia's rural communities can grow and retain their residents in the coming years.
