The area of St-Jean, in the east of the French city of Clermont-Ferrand, looks set for a prosperous and environmentally sustainable future. Through a project backed by the ERDF, a plan has been devised to transform this wasteland into an economic, business and social hub. ‘St-Jean: the future of urban wastelands’ brought together the local authority and other stakeholders to convert a long-degraded area of around 40 hectares into a metropolitan district offering a high quality of life and many opportunities for growth.
A brighter future for derelict land in Clermont-Ferrand, France
- 17 June 2020
To ensure a sustainable future for its inhabitants, our city must rebuild itself. St-Jean is the matrix of urban regeneration driven by three cardinal principles: enhancement of our industrial heritage; fostering nature in the city; development of soft mobilities. Our city changes, not its soul!
St-Jean suffered economic hardship after the closing of the slaughterhouse in 2002, taking with it a number of local meat sector companies. The area belongs to section of the city known as the ‘entre-deux villes’, which was identified as a priority for urban development and renewal under the Greater Clermont Territorial Coherence scheme and other related initiatives.
Creating a vibrant city
The plan to transform St-Jean aimed at meeting a number of programming objectives, including building an inclusive, economically vibrant city while providing attractive, varied and affordable housing. Environmental and urban objectives include improving the overall living environment and rebuilding the area by capitalising on its industrial heritage.
The project team wanted to incorporate major regional issues identified in Europe and adapt them to their needs. Showcasing efforts to transform St-Jean in this context could see the city authorities apply for the title of European Capital of Culture 2028.
Sustainability and diversity
According to the team behind the plan, transforming St-Jean into the district of tomorrow will be driven by a number of goals, including:
Creating a natural city that contributes to interaction and harmony between the space and its environment while strengthening local biodiversity and making the area an attractive place to live; Developing a city for all that contributes to social cohesion and solidarity by meeting the need for housing, jobs and services; Encouraging the emergence of sustainable lifestyles in all their diversity while building a creative city that contributes to economic excellence and innovation in urban design.In the near future, a high school will be built in St-Jean. This structure represents the regeneration's beginning. The city of Clermont-Ferrand will erect, at the same time, a gymnasium for school children and people who live in the neighbourhood. But it is too early to envisage relocations of companies in the district or development of residential buildings.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “St-Jean: The future of urban wastelands” is EUR 532 642, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 319 585 through the “Auvergne” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Environment and resource efficiency”.