The Government Commission has approved the issue of a permit for major renovation work to increase the volume of the building and carry out construction work. The permit means the regularisation of building work on the Sagrada Família, which has been under construction since 1885.

The permit provides for a maximum floor space of 53,495 square metres, with two floors below ground. The licence corresponds to the site occupied by the temple at present but doesn’t include the project for the external access staircase for the Gloria façade in C/ Mallorca, which will be studied in a working commission by the temple trust, local residents and organisations.

The temple trust will pay 4,627,074 euros in construction tax and in tax for the building permit, which anticipates the completion of the work in 2026.

Religious and cultural use

Activity licences have also been processed for the Sagrada Família, establishing the main use of the temple as a prayer centre open to visitors, with opening hours outside of liturgical ceremonies and a museum space.

The permit also includes the sacristy, offices and maintenance workshops and a maximum floor space of 378 square metres of shop space, which can only sell products linked to the temple and can only be accessed from inside the building.

Joint responsibility for the area and public services

The historic agreement to regularise the building work and the activity at the temple will also see the Sagrada Família contribute 36 million euros in ten years to improve bus services, access to the metro, spatial planning and municipal services in the neighbourhood.

The goal is to safeguard neighbourhood life, reduce the intensive use of public space and mobility and manage the high volume of tourists better.