The grass isn’t greener for everyone: Gentrification along Barcelona’s Green Axis project

Abstract

Urban greening initiatives are increasingly promoted as essential strategies for enhancing environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and urban quality of life. However, growing evidence suggests that these developments can also contribute to social exclusion and displacement, particularly of low-income and marginalized communities - a phenomenon known as ‘green gentrification’. This study investigates the case of the Green Axis project in Eixample, Barcelona, to explore how green urban transformations intersect with socio economic changes. Drawing on interviews with residents and experts, and a policy document analysis, the research finds that while the green transformations are broadly welcomed for their aesthetic and social benefits, they have also contributed to increased housing costs, demographic shifts and a loss of local business diversity. Despite the municipality’s stated commitment to participatory planning, residents reported limited involvement in the process. The findings suggest that the Green Axis functions not as the sole cause but as a catalyst of gentrification, amplifying existing trends in an already gentrifying neighbourhood. This underscores the need for more inclusive urban greening frameworks that explicitly integrate anti-displacement measures and prioritize environmental justice.