Land Swap Resolves Dual Urban Conflicts
The district government of Nou Barris has approved a land-use exchange that will protect around forty historic houses in the Vilapicina i la Torre Llobeta neighbourhood and preserve most of the Jardins de Can Xiringoi as green space. The move, which swaps urban planning designations between two sites, was presented this week to the Nou Barris plenary after initial approval by the municipal commission in July 2026. Final approval is expected by March 2027. Under the plan, a block of century-old houses on Carrer de Vilapicina, Carrer de Mare de Déu de les Neus, and Carrer d'Arnau, previously designated as green zone under the 1976 urban plan, will now be reclassified. This change lifts decades of restrictions that previously allowed only minimal maintenance work, opening the way for renovation and preservation.
Jardins de Can Xiringoi to Keep Most Green Space
The Jardins de Can Xiringoi, established in 2015 as a provisional green area on the site of former bus depots on Avinguda dels Quinze, will now proceed with development while retaining most of its green space. The exchange allows the construction of a municipal nursery school, a children's centre, and protected housing to be concentrated in a single taller building, minimising footprint. Xavier Marcé, councilor for Nou Barris, confirmed that the change enables progress on long-delayed facilities while preserving public parkland. "The change in urban planning allows us to secure the future of Can Xiringoi with this package of facilities and housing resources. We can now move forward with it. We will have to discuss with the residents how we want the public park to be, what elements it should have," he said. Residents will be consulted on the final design of the park through ongoing participatory processes hosted on the Decidim platform, which has already gathered proposals including a multi-sport court, water play area, and dog zone.
Historic Protection Upgraded for Vilapicina Houses
The reclassification also strengthens heritage protection. Houses previously listed at category C in the Municipal Heritage Catalog, allowing demolition, have been upgraded to category D, which prohibits demolition. One corner house on Carrer de Vilapicina, believed to date from 1840–1841 and originally part of the Camí de Santa Eulàlia towards Horta, is now protected. A historical study is planned to confirm its exact construction date. Jordi Sánchez, member of the Arxiu Històric de Roquetes – Nou Barris and the AV Vilapicina i la Torre Llobeta, welcomed the move: "The heritage of Nou Barris has always been underestimated; many houses would be better protected if they were in the old town of Sant Andreu or Gràcia." Only two plots, located near Carrer del Teide and Passatge d'Aristòtil, remain under potential redevelopment for a connecting road, but demolition would require owner initiative. Elsewhere, a new building with 40% protected housing is planned where an urban garden currently stands on Carrer de la Mare de Déu de les Neus.
Sources: betevé.
