Lessons Learned from Spain

This chapter draws attention to a significant imbalance in rural Spanish municipalities, particularly in Catalonia, where new housing construction has increased despite population decline or stagnation. After looking at how Spain’s rural population has been in decline since the 20th century, despite foreign immigration temporarily slowing this decline in Catalonia the authors look at how new homes continue to be built, driven by factors such as tourism, the real estate bubble, or proximity to larger cities, which offer an alternative to high urban prices. The chapter then points to a series of key challenges, including the limited supply of rental and social housing in rural areas, coupled with local councils’ difficulties in identifying truly vacant properties; a situation that leads to underutilised public services and disrupts the local housing market, making it hard for long-term residents to find affordable homes. In conclusion, the authors call for a rethink around urban and territorial policies, with a focus on the rehabilitation of existing properties, the adoption of more compact urban models, and the use of vacant dwellings over new construction.