Data-driven strategy for Sant Boi de Llobregat

Aretian has completed Sant Boi 2040, a comprehensive territorial strategy that reframes the city's long-term development through an integrated, evidence-based approach. The project establishes a unified analytical framework connecting urban form, mobility networks, housing capacity, services, and economic ecosystems to guide sustainable growth and innovation within the Barcelona Metropolitan Area.

Integrated planning for complex urban challenges

Sant Boi de Llobregat, positioned as a key connector between industrial corridors, natural landscapes, and residential communities in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, faced several structural challenges that required coordinated intervention:

• Siloed planning: Fragmented data and disconnected planning processes limited holistic evaluation and cross-system coordination;

• Mobility disparities: Excessive car dependency and concentrated railway coverage in the center/east, with higher bus reliance in south and west areas, created internal accessibility disparities;

• Growth pressure: Future population increases will intensify demands on mobility, urban continuity, and service provision;

• Economic transition: Weak integration between urban development and productive clusters hindered the evolution toward knowledge-based, innovation-linked activity.

City science framework: from analysis to action

Aretian applied its city science and innovation pipeline frameworks to align spatial strategy with economic transformation, delivering actionable planning grounded in rigorous analysis. The approach establishes a unified territorial baseline that merges spatial, demographic, mobility, housing, and economic data into a single comparable framework. By modeling different scenarios, decision-makers can evaluate measurable performance and understand clear trade-offs before committing to investments. Key strategic interventions include:

Human-scale urban planning: Reinforcing "15-minute city" principles ensures equitable access to services, green space, and opportunities while preserving environmental values. Future scenarios maintain 96-99% coverage across amenity types.

Transit-oriented densification: Growth is concentrated in mixed-use, transit-oriented areas to accommodate future population without dispersed expansion. District Z emerges as a new mixed-use centrality combining housing with offices and commerce.

Mobility system integration: The strategy builds around intermodality, incorporating two planned FGC stations and bus optimization (frequency, stops, coordination), alongside improved bicycle and pedestrian connectivity.

Civic corridor as a main spine: Reinforcing the civic corridor's ends and transversal connections transforms it into an integrative corridor of services, public space, and daily life.

Measurable outcomes for 2040

Under the Aretian 2040 scenario, Sant Boi de Llobregat achieves significant yet sustainable growth:

• Population growth: 94,200 total residents (+10,621);

• Housing expansion: +7,279 new homes focused around strategic nodes;

• Services and amenities: 926 total services (up from 783), supporting a stronger proximity-based city model;

• Innovation jobs: 9,000 innovative jobs, with innovation intensity reaching ~20%;

• Employment growth: +8,000 new jobs overall, including +5,000 new innovative jobs;

• 15-minute city: Maintained at very high coverage levels (96-99%) across amenity types.

Evidence-based decision-making

Sant Boi 2040 demonstrates how integrated territorial analysis can move cities from reactive to strategic planning. By establishing a unified baseline and comparing scenarios with measurable indicators, the project equips decision-makers with the analytical foundation needed to prioritize investments, coordinate interventions across systems, and guide sustainable growth.

The project exemplifies Aretian's commitment to evidence-based urban planning, providing cities with the tools to balance growth, sustainability, connectivity, and innovation in an increasingly complex metropolitan context.