Last Agricultural Land Under Threat
The Ponderosa allotments, the last large cultivated fields within Barcelona’s city limits, are at risk following the confirmed purchase of nearly nine hectares by Aigües de Barcelona (Agbar) in November 2024. Located between the Vallbona neighbourhood and Montcada i Reixac, adjacent to the Rec Comtal river, this agricultural space has long been recognised as a vital green lung and community resource. Ecologistes en Acció has called on the Barcelona City Council for urgent clarification, noting that the planned reclassification of the land as protected agricultural soil under the AgroVallbona project, announced in 2023, has not yet been completed. That urban planning shift was intended to secure the site’s future as part of a broader agroecological initiative linking food production with neighbourhood resilience.
Water Company Plans Raise Alarm
According to sources cited by ARA, Agbar intends to use the land for a potential expansion of its drinking water treatment plant (ETAP) in Trinitat, located just 400 metres away. The company states this development would support metropolitan water resilience, particularly during drought conditions, aligning with its sustainability goals reported in its 2023 Sustainability Report. However, any such expansion would require approval from multiple public administrations, including the Barcelona City Council, which holds authority over changes to land classified as community facilities of metropolitan interest. The council has not yet authorised any modification to the site’s current status.
The Deputy Mayor for Ecology and Urban Planning, Laia Bonet, has rejected the installation of a water treatment plant in the allotments and has stated that the City Council has proposed other locations.
Despite this, environmental groups remain concerned that without formal legal protection, the land remains vulnerable. Ecologistes en Acció has published its official letter to the council and is urging local residents and organisations to demand a binding commitment to preserve the area.
Council Stance and Next Steps
The city administration has consistently opposed industrial use of the Ponderosa site. In February 2023, the Ajuntament announced plans under AgroVallbona to convert urbanisable land into protected agricultural soil, specifically to safeguard this last major cultivable plain in Barcelona. Residents and advocacy groups now await formal action to complete the zoning change. Until then, the land remains in legal limbo, despite its ecological and symbolic value to the city. Those wishing to support preservation efforts can follow updates via the Llibertat.cat report and engage directly with the city’s urban planning department through official channels.
Reported by llibertat.cat, aiguesdebarcelona.cat, en.ara.cat, es.ara.cat, liniaxarxa.cat, beteve.cat, elpais.com, elperiodico.com, ara.cat, publico.es, climatica.coop, europapress.es, Nexus IT.
