Climate law: deputies' turn of the screw against new large retail outlets

This measure was voted by the special committee which is reviewing the climate bill, before it comes to plenary in the hemicycle from March 29.

Article 52 of the text, much debated, fixes according to its explanatory memorandum "a general principle of prohibition of creation of new commercial surfaces which would lead to an artificialization of the grounds".

The aim is to limit their encroachment on undeveloped land, particularly agricultural land, on the outskirts of urban centers, with consequences for the environment and landscapes, but also the decline of local shops.

However, the text stipulates that by way of derogation, the departmental commercial development commission may, "on an exceptional basis", authorize "a project with a sales area of ​​less than 10.000 m2".

The project will thus have to fit into the existing urban fabric, respond to an "adequate type of urbanization", or respond to "the needs of the territory". Compensation for artificial land with surfaces returned to nature or agriculture may also be taken into account for a derogation.

The threshold of 10.000 m2 was considered too high by many parliamentarians. Loïc Prud'homme (LFI) indicated that "80% of commercial space projects are below this threshold", while environmentalist Matthieu Orphelin estimated that "this article will hardly change anything".

Several deputies, including the majority, unsuccessfully demanded a threshold of 5.000 m2 or lower.

Center-right, Thierry Benoît (UDI) called for "a real moratorium", believing that in this area "we cannot continue as we have been doing for 50 years" with commercial areas extending more and more to the exit from cities.

The general rapporteur of the text Jean-René Cazeneuve (LREM) pleaded pragmatism, affirming that "this article may not do all the job for some, but it is progress".

Lowering the threshold would risk causing, according to him, a multiplication in the peri-urban landscape of "small shoe boxes", smaller shopping centers to the detriment of larger but "more coherent" projects.

Some elected officials like Julien Aubert (LR) have asked that the car parks of these centers, not just the buildings, be taken into account. Co-rapporteur Lionel Causse (LREM) said he was ready to work on this subject for consideration in plenary.

This fight against the artificialization of soils will also require local authorities to update their town planning documents. On Tuesday evening, MPs passed an amendment to give them more time, five to six years after the bill was passed.