A boost for housing and economic activity in Sant Andreu with the transformation of the old Mercedes factory

Housing Glossary

You will find information here on all topics relating to housing in Barcelona

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Accrued interest

The interest applied as a penalisation when the debtor does not comply with repayment obligations. The amount must be established in the contract.

Active supermortgage

This allows the client to choose their loan's benchmark index (MIBOR at three months, six months or a year) so that payment can benefit from lower interest rates sooner.

Adaptable instalment

Characteristic of UCI superloans that allow the borrower to not pay one instalment a year for the first three years if there are problems due to holidays, extraordinary expenses, etc.

Advanced cancellation fee

A commission arising from the financial risk involved in the advanced cancellation of an operation. The applied commission compensates the financial institution for its financial losses.

AEDE

Direct state aid for paying the deposit on a property.

Affordable housing

Group of social housing or dwellings from social renovation projects that are sold or rented at below-market prices.

Affordable rent

The cost of renting these dwellings is below market prices after being included in operations concerning the rented flat pool, social renovation or social housing promotions.

Amortisation

Payment made to repay a loan.

Amortisation period

The duration of the loan. The contract establishes the date of the first and last payments. The longer the period, the lower the payments are, but the higher the interest. You therefore pay more in the end. The monthly instalment should not exceed 35% of your net income.

API

Estate agent. A qualified professional who acts as an intermediary between the two interested parties to facilitate the signing of a real estate contract, which can be a rental agreement, a sales agreement or another similar contract. They usually charge a percentage of the sales price as compensation or commission.

Applicant

A citizen who makes a registration application to the Barcelona Social Housing Applicants Registry, and who represents the other members of the dwelling unit included in the application.

APR

Annual Equivalent Rate. Effective annual cost of the mortgage in terms of interest, commissions and the repayment period. To compare loans, it is not enough to just look at the lowest APR, you also have to compare the conditions, the repayment period and the distribution of instalment payments.

Arbitri municipal de plusvàlua

Former denomination of the capital gains tax on landed property.

Assessment

The value of a dwelling certified by a specialised assessment company, in accordance with the mortgage market law. This certificate not only indicates the real value of the property, it also serves as a reference for obtaining the necessary financing.

Authorisation

Document in which the owner authorises the tenant to carry out building work in the dwelling's interior.

Urban planning. The proposal includes the creation of 1,450 flats, the protection of industrial heritage and the opening up of the space with a square and green areas to knit neighbourhoods together.

The former Mercedes-Benz factory in Sant Andreu is to be transformed into a new economic and community space to link the neighbourhoods of Sant Andreu de Palomar and Bon Pastor. The agreement with the owners includes the creation of 1,450 flats, protection for industrial heritage and better connectivity between the area and its surroundings with a square and green spaces. A participatory process now gets under way with local people and organisations to finalise the project.

The transformation should revitalise the factory space of over 90,000 square metres, unused since 2007, with 60% used for housing and 40% for economic activity.

More housing

Around 1,450 new flats will be built at the site, 40% of them with official protection, half of them to rent, and 60% for the free market.

The housing blocks will keep aside 33,000 square metres for commerce, offices and industrial activities in the ground floor premises.

Creative industries and new technologies

The buildings around the central section of the old factory will house economic and training activities.

The site will also be the new home of the Elisava Faculty of Design and Engineering for the Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya (UVic-UCC), and the university’s headquarters in Barcelona.

Work is also being done towards the Fundació Leitat setting up its own centre at the site and leading the implementation of new tech companies linked to the creative industries and 4.0.

Preservation of heritage

The new space will do away with the perimeter fences at the factory and connect the site with the local neighbourhoods. At the same time, it will protect the industrial buildings, with the exception of the central section, which will be reserved for pedestrians and cyclists.

Sustainability criteria will be applied in the new building work for the transformation.

Agreeing on the transformation with local people

The work at the former Mercedes factory will be submitted to a participatory process with local people and organisations to agree on the transformation of the space and the facilities there. At the same time, the administrative process for the project means it will go before the government commission and the Full Council.

Before any work can begin, the urban plan for the site must be amended. Currently established as an industrial site, its designation must be changed to enable it to be used for housing, commerce and other activities.

The goal is for the first activities at the site to become operative in 2023.