Collboni shelves Barcelona’s 30pc affordable housing reform “until the next term” after talks with Junts collapse

Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni has announced that plans to reform the controversial 30% affordable housing rule are being set aside for the remainder of the current mandate. The decision follows the breakdown of negotiations with the Junts party, one of the key political stakeholders in the city council. Despite the setback, the mayor says he remains committed to boosting social housing development within the limits of the existing legal framework.

No deal on 30% rule reform as negotiations with Junts reach a dead end

The proposed reform was intended to revise and potentially ease the existing rule that obliges developers to set aside 30% of new residential developments or major renovations for protected (affordable) housing. The current policy, dating back to 2018 and introduced under Ada Colau’s hard-left administration, has been fiercely debated—praised for its ambition but widely criticised by developers for stifling housing supply.

Even Barcelona City Hall under Collboni admits the policy has been a dismal failure, publishing the following chart to show its impact on new home building in the city.

Despite efforts to build consensus, including what Collboni described as a “balanced attempt to bring positions closer”, talks have failed to yield an agreement. “We were genuinely surprised,” Collboni told digital outlet Metrópoli in a recent interview. “I believe we made a very fair effort to find middle ground—an effort which even had backing from the third sector.”

With Junts walking away from the table, the mayor has now acknowledged the political impasse. “What I must do now—what I must say to everyone in the wider housing sector—is that I’m filing the proposal away until the next term,” he said, effectively shelving one of the most significant housing debates in the city for the next two years.

Business and developer groups urge responsibility

While Collboni retreats from the reform for now, the move comes amid mounting pressure from Catalan developer groups and business leaders, who have repeatedly called on both the Mayor’s Socialists (PSC) and Junts to demonstrate “responsibility” and reach an agreement on the matter.

The 30% rule has long polarised stakeholders. Critics have argued it deters private development by reducing profitability and legal certainty, particularly in a city already grappling with soaring land prices, sluggish permitting and a complex urban planning regime. Supporters, meanwhile, see it as a necessary tool to combat the deepening affordability crisis in Barcelona, where rent and purchase prices have pushed many local families to the limit.

Collboni opens the door to Junts despite frustration

Despite his public frustration with Junts, Collboni was careful not to shut the political door entirely. “We’re still in time”, he insisted, suggesting the possibility of future dialogue should political winds shift before the end of his term.

This hint at reconciliation appears to reflect the mayor’s broader strategy: to remain open to alliances across the spectrum in order to manage the city’s fragmented governance. Collboni notably governs without an absolute majority and therefore depends on deals with other parties—including ERC, Barcelona en Comú, and yes, even Junts—on an issue-by-issue basis.

Budget 2026 and a push for civic order

Looking ahead, Collboni said the city would press forward with its 2026 municipal budget, aiming for approval by 31 December this year. He expressed a willingness to negotiate with progressive forces, including ERC, Barcelona en Comú and, where feasible, Junts, suggesting that budget dialogue remains separate from the housing standoff: “We want to reach agreements with progressive forces… and with Junts in areas where we can align.”

Civic matters are also in the spotlight for the second half of his term, with a new civic ordinance on the table. Collboni defended his administration’s efforts to improve cleanliness, claiming “everyone can clearly see improvements,” and pointed to the latest municipal barometer in which over 80% of respondents cited anti-social behaviour as the main issue with public space. “People are asking us for tougher regulation,” he said, hinting at a stricter approach to urban conduct.

Airport expansion remains a sensitive issue

As for the ongoing debate about expanding Barcelona’s airport—a project that has drawn environmental criticism despite strong business support—Collboni said he understood the concerns but urged a more measured view. “We should be fairer when we speak about the airport,” he noted, “as it is a major source of economic wealth.”

Between development policies, budget battles and civic reforms, Collboni still has plenty on his plate. But one thing is clear: his administration is stepping away from the 30% housing debate, for now, and punting it firmly into the political future. Whether it stays in the drawer permanently—or re-emerges in a more palatable form—will likely depend on the outcome of Barcelona’s next local elections.