Barcelona launches the Pact for Ciutat Vella to promote the comprehensive transformation of the district through dialogue and citizen collaboration.
On July 10th, at an event held in the auditorium of the Liceu Conservatory and chaired by the mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni , and also with interventions of councilor of the district, Albert Batlle and the commissioner of the Pacte por Ciutat Vella, Ivan Pera, the presentation of the Pact for Ciutat Vella took place, the roadmap that, with the participation and complicity of the social, cultural and economic stakeholders of the district, aims to revitalize the district by 2035.
The Pact for Ciutat Vella, led by municipal commissioner Ivan Pera, has begun a debate process that will establish the priorities and main lines of action to be implemented in the next few months, specified in a strategic action plan. The first actions and projects defined within the framework of this initial work are expected to be rolled out as of autumn 2025. The Pact for Ciutat Vella has a budget of 228 million in the mandate, 225 of which, are for investments and the other 3 million will be allocated to strengthening social policies and prevention policies, in addition to the district’s annual budget.
The challenges facing Ciutat Vella are as diverse as its rich urban and social fabric. One of the main challenges is the balance between the conservation of its historical and cultural heritage and the need for innovation and modernisation of buildings and infrastructure.
The population density and intensive use of public space require creative solutions to improve coexistence and manage conflicts of interest between residents, merchants and tourists. In addition, tourist pressure threatens access to housing and the social diversity of the district.
The need to boost the local economy without losing the essence of the neighbourhood is another significant challenge, in which innovation and citizen participation will play a fundamental role in defining the future of the district.
Ciutat Vella is starting from a scenario with relevant projects and events in the coming years that can generate opportunities to comprehensively transform the environment and the district in general, including the remodeling of the Rambla, the transformation of Via Laietana , the improvement of the Ciutadella park and its surroundings, the creation of new primary care centres or the transformation of Port Vell following the celebration of the America’s Cup.
In its preparation, the Plan will include the maximum number of opinions, points of view and realities possible and that is why the municipal government counts on the social fabric of Ciutat Vella and the participation of the citizens:
Neighbourhood and association representatives from the neighbourhoods, representatives of the district sector councils and neighbourhood councils, the educational community, training centres, universities and the Third Sector, social and economic agents, cultural and social economy agents, religious communities and representatives of women, young people, LGTBIQ+ and the elderly, security and civil protection bodies, municipal political groups represented in the district, local and supra-municipal public institutions, other value alliances, people, companies or institutions individually or collectively committed to Ciutat Vella, the media, the municipal operators’ table, and the Pact’s Advisory Council. The work of the Pact over the coming months will be structured into four main axes of action:
In order to monitor and evaluate the achievement of its lines of action, the Pact will continue, once the definition work has been completed, with annual sessions to assess the implementation and fulfilment of the challenges, and as a space for exchanging knowledge on future challenges for Ciutat Vella. In addition, an Advisory Board will be set up from the off, made up of people from the public, social, economic and cultural spheres who, due to their careers, have had a special connection with the Ciutat Vella District and have knowledge related to the axes and areas of the Pact.
