Esteve Camps, the president of the organisation in charge of realising the original Sagrada Familia masterplan of Antoní Gaudí, said if construction went to plan it could complete the 172.5-metre central tower dedicated to Jesus Christ by 2026, making the Sagrada Familia Barcelona’s tallest building.

This would mark the centenary of the untimely death of the Sagrada Familia’s creator in 1926.

However, work on other sculptures and decorations, as well as a controversial stairway leading to what would be the main entrance, is expected to continue until 2034.

The stairway plans have provoked opposition from residents and businesses because if it is realised, it would involve the demolition of blocks of housing and offices next to the existing building and dislodging about 1,000 families and businesses.

Camps said he remained committed to the extension plans despite objections from some residents.

He said “as their heirs of Gaudí”, the architects planned to continue with the project for the extension “just as Gaudí intended”.

He said he was in talks with Jaume Collboni, the mayor of Barcelona, about the future of the extension plans.

“I don’t have a crystal ball to tell me when they will make a decision,” he told a press conference.