The Institut Català de Finances (ICF) and the Gironella City Council have signed a loan of 2 million euros to finance the construction of 20 public housing units for social rental in the municipality. The two apartment blocks will be built in the Les Eres residential area, in the southern part of the development, on municipal land classified as public housing land.

With the aim of expanding the municipality’s public housing stock to develop housing policies, the city council is promoting its first operation as a social rental housing developer in twenty years. The project foresees that 40% of the apartments will be allocated to young people up to 35 years old, 15% to people over 65, and another 15% to single-parent families. The remaining 30% will be aimed at the general public.

The CEO of the ICF, Vanessa Servera i Planas, stated that: “With this development in Gironella, we will make it possible for 20 families to have access to affordable rent and place ourselves alongside city councils by offering them long-term financing with favorable conditions to promote the growth of the protected housing stock in Catalunya.”

“Responding to urgent housing needs is a priority for our municipal government, which is why we are leading this public housing development,” declared the mayor of Gironella, David Font. Font added: “In an initial demand survey, we already have nearly 100 interested families, which confirms the real need for this ambitious project for our town.”

The City Council’s project plans two symmetrical blocks of ten apartments each, with a surface area of 70 and 75 square meters, 2 or 3 bedrooms, and one parking space. The construction will also follow sustainability criteria, such as the use of industrial materials capable of reducing the environmental and visual impact of the project.

Regarding energy efficiency, the apartments will have an energy rating of A and will include an aerothermal system that provides both cool and warm air, while also generating clean energy for water heating.