Barcelona City Council, which owns 93% of the former La Escocesa factory complex, is pushing forward with its transformation, backing a wide-ranging plan to turn the 11,528 square-metre site into a facility built around a new model of social cohesion that puts people first.

The new ecosystem will include dignified housing for people with disabilities, support services, incubation space for cooperatives and the social economy, a food-industry laboratory of European standing, and studios for artists housed within the existing creation factories.

The municipal project carries a minimum investment of €51.8 million, with the aim of being fully operational by 2029. It is being developed around the transformation of the site's various warehouses along three strategic lines:

• Klein and Shield warehouses
  Transformative economy - Driver of innovation rooted in values 
  
  
• Birkhead, Paul and Steegmann warehouses
  Caring City - Genuine inclusion
  
  
• Johnston and Foseco warehouses
  Living Culture - The creative heart of Poblenou
  
  

Once these distinctive warehouses have been transformed, the following community impact indicators are projected for the site by 2029, covering the northern part of the 22@ district:

Social inclusion through self-managed housing

• Supported housing for 30 people with disabilities
• Supported housing for 42 people with specific needs

Artistic creation

• Over 30 active artists in residence
• More than 40 public events a year
• 250 people taking part in regular artistic activities
• A free training and exhibition programme

Employment

• 22 jobs in work-based activities
• 38 posts in support roles for people

Food innovation

• Incubation of foodtech start-ups
• R&D projects run with universities

Training

• 1,000 professionals taking part in team-building programmes
• Professional certificates and DUAL training schemes

Community and neighbourhood

• 15,000 visitors a year
• 1,702 square metres of new public space
• A stronger Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) ecosystem in Barcelona

Delivering the project will require an investment of at least €51.8 million, €27.2 million of which will come from the City Council, as part of a unique partnership bringing together the cultural sector, the third social sector, business and academia, and other public authorities: Mercabarna, the AMPANS Foundation, the Associació d'Idees EMA and the Government of Catalonia.