Politics
Eixample District Council Approves 2026 Participatory Budgeting Update, Shifting Project Selection Process for Residents
Eixample residents will submit and vote on local improvement proposals through a revised online system beginning in September under the new framework.
How we reported this
The Eixample district council approved the updated Participatory Budgeting Framework on 7 July 2026, altering how resident-proposed projects for parks, street repairs and community facilities are selected and funded. The changes apply to all proposals submitted by individuals or neighbourhood groups within the district boundaries.
The revision follows the release of the district's preliminary 2026 budget documents, which project increased demand for small-scale infrastructure work amid higher material costs recorded in the prior fiscal year. District records show that 4,200 residents participated in the 2025 cycle, a figure the updated rules aim to expand through simplified digital access.
Changes to Proposal and Voting Steps
Under the new rules, residents must register proposals through a single municipal portal rather than submitting paper forms at district offices. Local advocates note that this shift requires internet access but removes the previous requirement for 50 signatures per project. Policy analysts cite the 2025 district budget papers, which allocated 1.8 million euros to approved resident projects, as the baseline for the 2026 round.
Examples for Eixample households include requests for additional bike racks near Passeig de Gràcia or lighting upgrades in interior courtyards of the grid blocks. Families living near the Sagrada Família perimeter could propose shade structures for nearby playgrounds, with selections now determined by a weighted vote that prioritises proposals from the submitting neighbourhood.
Next Implementation Steps
The government says the policy will open the submission window on 1 September 2026 and close it on 15 October, followed by a two-week voting period. District officials plan to publish the list of funded projects by 30 November, with construction or installation scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2027. Residents seeking further details can review the full ordinance text on the Eixample district website.