Mud, tall grass and mounds of earth. It is difficult to imagine that, by 2027, on this vast land, an eco-district will have emerged from the ground, with its first 350 housing units (800 are planned in ten years), a third place or even spaces for gardening in front of the buildings. Launched by the urban community (CDA) of La Rochelle and the town hall of Aytré (Charente-Maritime), the project is now in the hands of Aquitanis, the developer of the site. For four years, this eco-district, which aims to be participatory, has been designed with its residents and future residents, during mediation days, citizen events with strolls on the site… Ultimately, Bongraine will offer seven islets of collective housing and 17 building plots, and provides for 33% social housing as well as 20% affordable access. The first building permits have been submitted and development work should begin in January 2025, with first deliveries in 2027.
This 35 hectare site where the SNCF maintained its rolling stock was purchased in 1995 by the CDA of La Rochelle. The poor condition of the soil, polluted on the surface and underground by clinker and grease from trains, required a long decontamination of the land; it has just ended. Archaeological excavations also had to be carried out, as well as a biodiversity assessment. The presence on the site of two protected species, the blue thyme, a butterfly, and the Jaubert's odontitis, a flowering plant, forced the CDA to set up an environmental protocol with an ecologist. This project, valued at 160 million euros, received 7.7 million euros from the State as part of support for “virtuous projects to promote new solutions in response to the challenges of the city and territories” imagined in 2021 by former housing minister Emmanuelle Wargon, as part of France Relance.
Land pressure
Ideally located on the Aquitaine coast, La Rochelle and neighboring towns remain very attractive, but, like many, they have reached their limits in terms of urban development. So, wonders Katherine Chipoff, community advisor at the CDA of La Rochelle, “Those who want to develop their businesses, where do we put them? ».
Housing is sorely lacking, particularly because, “after the Covid years, we did not build as much as we should have”underlines the elected official. In addition, the municipalities of the agglomeration community “have no available land, so we have to densify the land we already have. But residents do not want buildings in the middle of pavilions”continues the woman who is also a municipal councilor in the neighboring town of Lagord. Added to this is significant pressure from seasonal rentals, particularly with the Airbnb platform. So much so that companies that would like to develop in the sector are held back by the difficulty of housing their employees. “Elixir Aircraft, located next to La Rochelle airport, would like to hire, but cannot”gives the chosen one as an example.
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