Politics
Eixample Breaks Ground on €3.6 Million Primary Care Centre and New Superblock to Tackle Health Inequalities
A new CAP in Eixample Esquerre and a 58,000-square-metre superblock conversion aim to expand access to care and reduce pollution-related illness for 37,925 residents.
How we reported this
Construction has started on a €3.6 million primary care centre (CAP) at Carrer Comte Borrell, 305, designed to serve 37,925 residents of the Eixample Esquerre neighbourhood, according to Hospital Clínic Barcelona. The facility will be operated by the Eixample Primary Health Care Consortium (CAPSE), which integrates hospital specialists from Hospital Clínic using a single medical record model.
In parallel, work has officially begun on a new superblock (superilla) at the intersections of Consell de Cent, Girona, Rocafort and Comte Borrell. The project will convert 58,000 square metres of road space into pedestrian green zones, prioritising health outcomes by reducing traffic and cutting exposure to hazardous pollutants.
Why This Matters Now for Eixample Residents
Eixample faces well-documented public health challenges linked to air pollution. Local policy initiatives such as Eixample Respira and the city’s low emission zones aim to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter that are associated with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The new CAP and superblock together represent a dual strategy: expanding access to primary healthcare while tackling one of the root environmental causes of chronic illness in the district.
The Barcelona government has allocated more than €4.5 million to strengthen primary care and community health services city-wide, including the expansion of the Neighbourhood Health (BSaB) programme to 11 new areas and improvements to mental health support. For Eixample residents, this means the new CAP will operate within a broader network of community-based care, complemented by pedestrian-friendly streets that encourage walking and reduce vehicle emissions.
What It Means for Daily Life
For the nearly 38,000 people living in Eixample Esquerre, the new CAP will offer closer access to integrated care without the need to travel to larger hospital centres. The CAPSE model, linking GPs with specialists from Hospital Clínic via a shared electronic health record, is intended to reduce waiting times and improve continuity of care. Residents should be able to see a doctor, access diagnostic tests and receive specialist referrals within the same system.
The superblock, meanwhile, will reshape how people move through the neighbourhood. The reclaimed road space will become green zones, planted areas with benches, bike parking and play spaces, that lower local temperatures and improve air quality. Daily journeys by foot or bicycle will become safer and more pleasant, directly addressing the health risks posed by traffic fumes.
While specific timelines for completion of the CAP and superblock have not been released, the start of works signals that both projects are now in active delivery. Barcelona’s health and urban mobility departments have not yet announced the opening date for the new CAP, but construction activity at Carrer Comte Borrell, 305 is under way. The superblock conversion is also proceeding, with street-level changes expected to be phased over the coming months.