Simplification law: elected officials warn against a step backwards on the zero-emissions target.

These relaxations are raising questions within the industry.

In an opinion piece, the signatories highlight an article that "multiplies exemptions authorizing land development, to the detriment of farmers." For those in the construction industry, these changes could open up new land opportunities, while also raising questions about the clarity of the regulatory framework.

ZAN: a structuring but restrictive framework for land

The "zero net land take" (ZAN) objective has become a major benchmark for planning and structuring operations. It notably aims to halve the rate of land take by 2031, before reaching net zero by 2050.

In practice, this trajectory is already resulting in a gradual reduction of areas open to urbanization, contributing to a scarcity of building land and increasing land pressure in many areas.

Any change to this framework is likely to have direct repercussions on project scheduling, land strategies and processing times.

A matter of regulatory stability

Elected officials warn of a risk of imbalance in local planning policies. "Challenging the objective of zero net land take introduces disorder where local elected officials have built coherence," they emphasize.

For companies in the sector, the stability of the rules remains a key issue in order to secure investments and anticipate constraints related to planning permissions.

Between opportunities and uncertainties for operations

While the simplification of procedures is seen as a potential lever for accelerating projects, a multiplication of exemptions could also generate varying interpretations depending on the territories.

In this context, elected officials call for preserving a balance between facilitating operations and maintaining a clear framework, an essential condition to guarantee the visibility of construction industry players.