Construction begins on three new co-operative housing blocks in September, with a total of 96 flats, located in the neighbourhoods of La Bordeta in Sants-Montjuïc and El Parc i la Llacuna del Poblenou in Sant Martí. The units will be collectively owned, with residents paying a monthly fee that is nearly half the average rent in these areas.
The municipally-owned land designated for the Sotrac and Empriu cooperative developments is located in La Bordeta, in the area around Can Batlló, and for the Abril cooperative, in El Parc i la Llacuna del Poblenou. In addition to providing land for the three cooperatives, the City Council has contributed €900,000 in repayable grants to help finance these projects.
All three developments are designed according to bioclimatic criteria to reduce energy consumption, utilising high thermal inertia during winter and effective cross-ventilation in summer.