Economists say building 50,000 new flats by 2030 is 'not feasible'

A survey from the Catalan Economists' Association says that seven in ten (71.1%) economists don't think the government's plan to build 50,000 new flats by 2030 is feasible.

A majority of the economists are "pessimistic" regarding the feasibility of the project, the survey says.  

Conducted in November among 600 members, the study points to a "low" level of private-public collaboration that they think will prevent the government's plan from being achieved. 

The Catalan executive outlined in November that the plan would consist of building affordable rentals aimed at the "middle classes", 4,000 of which are already in process. Some 20,000 apartments could be built immediately using lots from other administrations or private individuals. 

The economists argue in the survey that the government, on its own, "does not have enough muscle" to achieve the project. 

Access to housing has become the main worry for Catalans for the first time since 2007 in a recent public survey.