Project goals
Against a backdrop of population growth and increased human activity, the Climate and Resilience Act of 22 August 2021 sets out the objective of preserving natural, agricultural and forest areas by prohibiting the net artificialisation of land by 2050. As a result, brownfield sites have become an essential potential reservoir for regional development. However, Montluçon Communauté does not have a map of vacant land nor, consequently, of potentially polluted areas on it. At present, land is studied on a case-by-case basis depending on the opportunities presented to the community.
The aim is therefore to better anticipate and manage the risks and opportunities associated with vacant land. Public and private stakeholders with complementary skills have come together to meet these challenges for the future.
Public and private partners
Montluçon Community
Montluçon Communauté consists of 21 communes [municipalities] with a total population of 60,617. The significant industrial past of the region explains why the local authority has identified a large number of brownfield sites, and the study will focus on the communes of Montluçon, Saint-Victor, Désertines and Domérat.
The University of Clermont Auvergne (UCA)
A renowned regional university, the UCA has set itself the objective of "Designing sustainable living and production models". It has a range of research laboratories with varied expertise, including the Microorganisms: genome and environment laboratory (LMGE) and the Clermont-Ferrand Institute of Chemistry (ICCF), which are used to working together on issues relating to the fate of organic contaminants and bioremediation.
BRGM, the French geological survey
BRGM is a public institute with recognised experience in identifying industrial and service activity sites and carrying out brownfield inventories. It is also conducting research into the choice of rezoning options for the sustainable management and redevelopment of brownfield sites that once housed (potentially) polluting activities.
Biobasic Environnement
Biobasic Environnement is an independent engineering company based in Saint-Beauzire (Puy-de-Dôme) specialised in the industrial environment and the management and remediation of polluted sites and soils. It is developing innovative solutions for treating contaminated soil.
A three-task, 24-month project
The two-year project will be carried out in three phases. The first will involve an inventory and characterisation of the land by BRGM. The second task is to develop a methodological framework for assessing the potential for redevelopment on a selection of sites identified by BRGM and Biobasic Environnement. Finally, the last task, to be carried out by UCA and Biobasic Environnement, is to assess the implementation of nature-based technologies for the remediation of polluted areas in order to promote the reconversion of sites in line with the principles of sustainable development.
All of these tasks will cost an estimated €483,396, financed by Montluçon Communauté to the extent of €339,581 with the support of the State, via the fund for accelerating the ecological transition in regions (Green Fund) and the Conseil Départemental de l'Allier, as part of the Pacte pour Montluçon Communauté. The remainder is being funded by all the other partners.
