Housing & city planning

From efforts focused on housing and land use planning…

During 10 years, efforts have been focused on housing and real estate development.

The local housing programme of the Urban Community of Dunkerque was implemented as a means to determine the objectives for social housing development. Operational tools have been developed to suit this purpose: subsidies for high quality environment social housing, determining objectives for encouraging social mix, land use planning promoting urban regeneration, social and age mix, granting financial support to social landlords based on the prerequisite of compliance with housing standards established by the Urban Community.

By granting subsidies to landlords on the condition that they apply target rent, a synergy is achieved between public and private funds which benefits underprivileged tenants.

Public space management in town centres has made it possible for towns in urban and rural areas to dispose of one or more agreeable open public spaces which discourage the use of cars while maintaining commercial activity.

A major achievement in terms of sustainable development, the area of the Grand Large revived a disaffected industrial zone of the port turning it into an entirely new housing and commercial estate.

 

…to a future integrating territorial sustainable development

Prior to and in parallel with this housing and land use planning strategy, the following policies have also been implemented: town green spaces, urban sustainable transport planning, sustainable industrial development scheme, green spaces in business parks… Technical improvements have been made as far as building materials and building methods are concerned. However, it is above all a question of working to educate the population on an individual and collective level so as to get them to understand that land use planning will contribute to reduce greenhouse gases, save energy, and build a society where there is room for everyone in town.

At present, a more integrated phase of the programme is being carried out with the drafting of the local development scheme. This document is meant to help create a synergy between the different policies which participate in the strategic vision of territorial sustainable development and convey its legal implications in terms of implantation and land use planning.

Real estate economy isn’t an end in itself but must contribute to develop biological corridors and connect the land’s green lungs. Space must be optimized, for example areas used for protection against industrial hazards can be turned into green screens, using humid areas as water reservoirs for fauna and flora...

For every analysis that is made and every action that is taken, a document will establish an orientation for the policy in question, following these rules: territorial management will be determined according to the local development scheme, land use planning will comply with the urbanism and sustainable development charter, while social housing development will conform with the objectives for a high quality environment…