The management of disused assets poses a constant challenge for the Ministry of Interior. Numerous former police stations and barracks accumulate across Spain, awaiting a new purpose. A recent example of this issue is the old Civil Guard barracks in Blanes (Girona), which has been put up for public auction for the fourth time.
The Official State Gazette (BOE) has confirmed that, so far, there have been no offers for the building located at number 76 on Avenida de L'Estació. The Autonomous Body for Infrastructure and Equipment of State Security (GIESE O.A.) has set a bidding price of 222,237.84 euros. Interested parties must deposit a guarantee of 15,242.65 euros to participate in the tender, which closes on April 17, with the auction scheduled for April 29 in Madrid.
Although the figures seem attractive —the property includes an 812 square meter plot and a built area of 1,798 square meters— the succession of failed auctions, with initial prices exceeding 270,000 euros in 2025, indicates that the real estate market is dismissing the operation for reasons beyond the base cost. Sources from the Blanes real estate sector have pointed out that the building, constructed in 1960, would require extensive demolition or structural emptying, significantly increasing any project's cost.
“"It is difficult to consider it as a residential building. It is in an industrial area, between the train station and near a factory. It is not a matter of poor urban planning, it is simply not a good area to build apartments."
The industrial surroundings, with supermarkets, mechanical workshops, and logistics warehouses, reduce its residential appeal. The same sources suggest that the only viable option might be the construction of a transit hotel or offices, a very specific niche that does not attract typical developers.
Given the lack of private interest, the Blanes City Council has evaluated the space, considering it a 'magnificent hub for entities' due to its connection to the railway lines. However, the council has decided not to participate in the auction due to the high renovation costs that acquiring the dilapidated property would entail. The municipal government confirms that there is no interest from any private investor.
The GIESE tender includes an important registration clause: the property is subject to a preferential acquisition right in favor of the Generalitat de Catalunya. This provision, protected by Law 18/2007 on the right to housing, allows the Catalan Government to match any winning offer or the base price to expand the public housing stock. The Department of Territory and Housing will need to assess whether the space meets the technical criteria for a potential Official Protected Housing (VPO) development, considering the warnings about the industrial nature of the plot and its proximity to the train tracks.
