Catalonia sees drop in new housing permits while Baix Empordà leads regional construction activity

The Col·legi d’Arquitectes de Catalunya (COAC) reports that 7,897 new housing units were approved across Catalonia in the first half of 2026, a 2.59 % decline from the same period last year. In Barcelona the decline was steeper, with approvals falling about 40 % year‑on‑year. COAC president Sandra Bestran warned that the sectoral housing plan’s target of 25,000 homes annually is unlikely to be met, estimating only around 15,000 may be completed by year‑end.

Overall construction activity rose, with 2.411 million m² approved – up 13.46 % – and 4,752 projects (up 8.39 %). Girona province contributed strongly, and the Baix Empordà comarca led construction in the region, handling nearly a quarter of the total area approved and about 300 projects. Approximately 1,500 new homes were approved there, the highest number in a decade, though the COAC cautions that supply remains far short of demand. The institute calls for faster licensing, reduced bureaucracy, and more affordable housing provisions.