Mataró City Council, (region of Catalonia) its urban development company PUMSA and El Corte Inglés have reached a preliminary settlement agreement under which the municipality will reacquire the Can Fàbregas i de Caralt site for €11.713 million, plus VAT. The transaction is intended to bring to an end more than 15 years of legal, planning and commercial disputes surrounding one of the city's most strategic urban regeneration sites.
Under the agreement, El Corte Inglés will transfer full ownership of the plot back to the municipality, subject to approval by the City Council and the completion of the administrative procedures required for public property acquisitions. The parties have set 31 December 2026 as the deadline for completing the transaction, unless an extension is mutually agreed.
The acquisition will return to public ownership a 9,629 sqm site with a maximum gross development area of 26,576 sqm, primarily designated for tertiary uses. Located in central Mataró, the plot is considered a strategic asset for the future redevelopment of the city centre and the improvement of urban mobility.
The agreed purchase price reflects the property's current market valuation, as confirmed by the municipality's technical services.
The site was originally sold to El Corte Inglés in 2012, following a public tender, for €24 million. The retailer planned to develop a large shopping centre, alongside a 600-space underground car park, but the project never materialised.
The redevelopment became embroiled in a lengthy legal dispute after the dismantling of the historic Can Fàbregas industrial building, which had been removed to prepare the site for construction. A citizens' platform challenged the decision in court, with judges later ruling that the listed building must be reconstructed in its original location. According to the City Council, the dismantled elements have been preserved on municipal land and are in good condition.
In November 2023, El Corte Inglés filed legal proceedings against PUMSA seeking to have the 2012 contract declared void or, alternatively, terminated. The claim was extended to Mataró City Council in February 2025. Court proceedings were suspended in June 2026 after the parties informed the court that negotiations were underway.
The municipality said the agreement would eliminate the risks, costs and uncertainty associated with continued litigation while restoring public control over a strategic development site. Once the sale is formalised by public deed, all parties will irrevocably waive any claims related to the original 2012 agreement, the property and the ongoing judicial proceedings before jointly requesting court approval of the settlement.
Following completion of the acquisition, Mataró City Council will determine the future use of the site in line with the city's current development priorities and public interest.
