| Summary: | The environmental and health impacts that occurred in the city of Granollers (Barcelona, Spain) ultimately led to a public rejection of natural surroundings, which became polluted and neglected places. The regeneration of these degraded spaces required an ambitious and multidimensional revitalisation programme to re-establish their ecological and cultural functions. This paper describes and evaluates the arduous restoration process carried out over more than 20 years, analysing the outcomes, challenges and setbacks involved in achieving a more resilient, green and liveable city. This paper examines innovative projects with nature-based solutions, such as the river restoration project to naturalise and release the Congost River, and the creation of a lagoon-based system in the Can Cabanyes area to foster biodiversity and create a local green economy based on the reuse of water. The paper presents evidence of the contribution of a long-term local restoration programme to the improvement of biodiversity and health in a medium-sized city. Empirical evidence has demonstrated a remarkable ecological improvement of the restored habitats. Social appraisal of the project has notably increased over the years, although some long-standing negative views persist regarding the restored river areas. The overarching strategy implemented in Granollers has transformed and empowered the city, multiplying the local green infrastructure and creating a valuable public corridor between the city and the regenerated spaces.
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