L'Hospitalet de Llobregat is preparing a transformation of its Economic District, south of Granvia, that would add more than 60,000 square metres of green areas and reorganise movement around plaça Europa and the Pedrosa industrial estate.

The changes would affect workers, businesses and visitors travelling through an area containing offices, hotels, industrial units and Fira Gran Via. According to reporting by 20minutos, the plan aims to connect the district more closely with the rest of L'Hospitalet and with Barcelona along its northern boundary.

More vegetation and surfaces that absorb rainwater

The master plan focuses on reducing the dominance of asphalt and vehicles in public space. It proposes additional vegetation, more permeable ground surfaces and systems intended to manage and make better use of rainwater.

The Área Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB), the metropolitan authority for Barcelona and surrounding municipalities, is involved in the project. The AMB identifies the Economic District, including the Pedrosa industrial estate, and plaça Europa as L'Hospitalet's main areas of economic activity.

  • More than 60,000 square metres of green areas are planned.
  • The intervention is expected to cost more than €20 million.
  • An initial €4 million has been allocated through the AMB's territorial cohesion actions programme.

District serves businesses, logistics and Fira visitors

The area has intensive business and logistics activity, with goods and workers moving through it, alongside service-sector activity. Fira Gran Via also brings large numbers of visitors during major events, making movement planning a central part of the proposal.

20minutos reports that the full financing package has yet to be finalised as the project develops. The scheme is being prepared as economic activity expands southwards in L'Hospitalet, including the planned biomedical cluster and the consolidation of plaça Europa and Fira Gran Via.

The first confirmed funding is the €4 million allocation from the AMB programme.

Primary sources: govern.cat, inventariarxiu.l-h.cat. Reported by 20minutos.es, N.C, metropoliabierta.elespanol.com, manresadecideix.cat, elperiodico.com, 20 Minutos Barcelona.