The Senate votes on a text to boost rural housing

The text of Pierre Louault, examined within the framework of a "niche" of the centrist group, must still be placed on the agenda of the National Assembly.

Its "ambition is to give the possibility of living in a rural territory, that must become a right and no longer a prohibition", affirmed Mr. Louault, asking "for a little flexibility". "We do not open Pandora's box and we do not let anything happen," he assured.

The text was tightened in committee "to better target the heart of French rurality", said the centrist rapporteur Valérie Létard.

"The elected representatives of rural areas are now subject to contradictory injunctions (...) to stop the demographic and economic decline of rural areas in decline (...) but also to ensure the future of the French agricultural sector and better protect our soils of artificialization, ”she underlined.

The text also aims to secure for the farmer a "right to live" on his farm and to protect him against abusive remedies from the neighborhood linked to agricultural activities.

Welcoming a "constructive work", the Secretary of State for Biodiversity Bérangère Abba noted that many of its provisions already exist in current law.

If it received a "favorable opinion" from the left of the Communist-majority PS and CRCE groups, the environmental group spoke out against the bill.

“In general, the provisions of the text run counter to the challenges of preserving natural agricultural or forest areas under the Climate and Resilience Act,” said Daniel Salmon.