From Industry to Urban Renewal
The historic Montesa motorcycle factory site in Esplugues de Llobregat is undergoing a sweeping transformation. Where motorcycles were once manufactured, a new 11-hectare urban district is rising, blending housing, green space, and major public services. The area, officially designated the Montesa Strategic Residential Area (ARE), occupies land previously used by Honda-owned Montesa and the old Yellow Ray football field. The redevelopment is one of the most visible urban changes in the Baix Llobregat region.
Vithas Hospital Opens as Key Landmark
The Vithas Barcelona Hospital, located at 157 Avenida de Cornellà, opened in November 2025 after more than two years of construction. According to Vithas’ 2025 annual report, it is the group’s largest hospital in Spain, spanning over 39,000 square metres. It features 160 individual rooms (including seven suites), 60 specialist consultations, 24-hour emergency services with separate adult and paediatric circuits, a maternity and paediatric area, and 14 operating rooms. When fully operational, it will employ around 1,800 professionals. The hospital is Vithas’ fifth facility in Catalonia and part of PlazaSalud+, Spain’s leading healthcare purchasing group, which includes 71 hospitals and 84 affiliated centres.
The opening of Vithas Barcelona marks the completion of a long-term growth strategy focused on patient experience, innovation, and sustainability.
Housing Expansion Underway
The ARE Montesa plan includes 2,105 new homes. Of these, 1,059 will be subsidised, with approximately 750 designated for affordable rent. In March 2026, Incasòl, Catalonia’s public housing agency, awarded land to Metropolitan House for the construction of 324 affordable rental apartments across three buildings. The investment exceeds €60 million, with construction underway in 2026 and the first homes expected to be available from 2028. Another municipal plot on Carrer de Les 13 Roses has been put out to tender, with capacity for 74 homes and up to 620 square metres of commercial space. The starting bid for the land is €6.93 million.
New Public Facilities Rising
Alongside housing and healthcare, new civic infrastructure is emerging. Construction has begun on a new headquarters for Esplugues’ Local Police on the former factory grounds. The 4,000-square-metre building will include citizen service areas, operational units, training spaces, and a permanent road safety education circuit for children. Approximately 70% of the ARE Montesa area is allocated to roads, green spaces, and community facilities, reflecting a shift from industrial use to a mixed-use urban model. The transformation remains ongoing, but the contrast with the past is already stark: a site once defined by engine noise and factory lines is now shaping the future of residential life in Esplugues.
Primary sources: incasol.gencat.cat. Reported by esplugues.cat, vithas.es, Alimarket Sanidad y Dependencia, 20 Minutos Barcelona.
