A skyscraper project in Toulouse challenged in court

The public rapporteur of the Administrative Court (TA) of Toulouse rejected the arguments of opponents of the skyscraper. The Tribunal is expected to render its decision before the summer.

"The tower today cannot be built, we do not know its energy consumption, we do not know its real impact on the environment. What do we do with a project that is not completed? How the people of Toulouse can understand that a building permit has been granted", is surprised Alice Terrasse, the plaintiffs' lawyer.

France nature environnement (FNE), Right to housing (DAL) and local residents have seized administrative justice.

The construction of this tower would be a first in the 4th city of France, devoid of tall buildings.

This project by American architect Daniel Libeskind is a 40-storey building, vegetated from top to bottom, with spiral glass facades.

The tower should house 11.000 m2 of offices, shops, a little over a hundred apartments, a panoramic restaurant-bar, a hotel and SNCF premises in the base of the building, located near the station.

"It's a project in which we believe a lot. We are not going to look for international architects, like Daniel Libeskind, to come out with a mediocre product", tries to reassure Eric Paillot, vice-president of the Phalsbourg company, who is leading the project.

"This systematic reflex of saying 'they are going to hurt', seems partisan to me. Verticality, we like it or we don't like it, but it is a response to our environmental problem", underlines Mr. Paillot.

If the administrative court rejects the appeals, the associations can still appeal to the Council of State.

The mayor of Toulouse Jean-Luc Moudenc (LR) sees in the Tour Occitanie "the architectural signature at the height of the ambition of a European metropolis". The Toulouse conurbation, where the headquarters of the European giant Airbus is located, is experiencing strong demographic growth thanks to the aeronautics sector.