Urban renovation: 84% of operations launched, timetable relaxed

A pillar of the transformation of working-class neighborhoods, the ANRU has been carrying out demolition-reconstruction and renovation operations on tower blocks and blocks of flats for twenty years in order to open up working-class neighborhoods and improve the quality of life of their residents.

It also intervenes in the transformation of public spaces, the construction of public facilities such as schools, and the creation of economic activities.

The New National Urban Renewal Program (NPNRU), launched in 2014 and endowed with 12 billion euros, provides for 15.000 operations in 448 neighborhoods classified as "priority urban policy" (QPV), recalls a "project review" published Tuesday.

In a press release, the Ministry of Housing welcomed an "ambitious program" that has generated "€45,9 billion in investments" and provides for the rehabilitation of 261.000 homes and the construction of 176.000 others.

For its part, the ANRU highlights "10,2 billion euros in tax revenue generated", 350.000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent avoided per year, as well as an increase in the academic success rate in 62% of the colleges concerned.

However, some operations are harder to move forward, particularly due to their technical complexity, additional costs or management difficulties.

This is the case for 256 of them which risk not being ready for 2026, the year of the end of the financial commitment of the operations giving rise to the payment of subsidies by the ANRU.

They mainly concern public equipment and development projects carried out by local authorities.

In response, the minister wishes to "extend the possibility for local authorities (...) who need to commit their funding until 2027," the ministry said.

The deadline for delivery of the operations is also postponed "from 2030 to 2032".

This assessment comes as the projects are in the process of reaching maturity, requiring financial support from the State in a context where the government is seeking new savings for 2026.

The ANRU is also questioning the future of its interventions after the end of its second program, fearing a "slump" if no decision to continue this public policy is announced this year.