No less than 2,162 additional inhabitants living between 2016 and 2022 (+ 0.36% per year) in the QBO territory. That is roughly the equivalent of the number of Edernois. From a simple statistical point of view, the trend indicates a maintenance of the population. But on closer inspection, the general movement could well reflect the first sequence of an increase in demography. For what ?
Difference with the terrain
“The numbers seem a little surprising to me. There are no empty houses in my town,” comments Jean-René Cornic, mayor of Langolen. This municipality, one of the furthest from the city center, shows a demographic drop of almost one point, or 37 fewer people. “There has been no census here since 2020. We had a municipal subdivision of thirteen lots in progress. Six more have emerged from the ground since. Five individual houses welcome the first families,” we correct at the town hall, where the reality on the ground in real time would reverse the statistics. “But we will not go much further in the years to come: the ZAN law (Zero artificialization of soils) is blocking us,” warns the mayor.
Third Quimper belt
The Langolin reality would therefore rather conform to the scenario of a third emerging Quimper belt, also shaped by the demographic tremor measured in Landudal (+ 36 inhabitants). The consequence of a “new attractiveness of peri-urban rural areas”, believes Raymond Messager. This mayor, who says he observed an assault on houses and land after the health crisis, explains: “We have invested in infrastructure making the town attractive.” In addition to the last 22 housing units in Clos Dourlez, the mayor mentions a renovated school, with 110 children and a micro-crèche with fourteen places. “We are actually only 10 minutes from Gourvily. In other words, closer than some Quimper residents living in the south of the city,” he adds mischievously.
Infrastructure and defense of the City
A good sense of urban planning that Hervé Herry, mayor of Ergué-Gabéric, defends and develops. The vast commune located to the east of Quimper recorded the largest demographic increase in QBO, with around 400 more inhabitants in six years. To justify this peri-urban attractiveness, he adds the item of identity, which cannot be dissolved in the big QBO whole. This bond of belonging would be forged in particular in associative and sporting practices encouraged by the existence of adequate equipment. Hervé Herry also wants to see the ability of his municipality to cultivate living together as a reason for its attractiveness.
Habitat renewal
On the fringes of the country of Douarnenez, Guengat also recorded a very slight increase in its population. “Because it is the most beautiful town in the world,” provokes its mayor David Le Goff before more seriously discussing a renewal of tenants or owners: “A house occupied yesterday by an elderly person is today occupied by a nursing home. three four members. Even if the stock of available houses is small, this renewal has a significant numerical impact.” This elected official also mentions a dynamic of births which is “maintaining” and an attractive geographical sector “at the gates of Quimper and near the sea”.
