Project proposal by
- Institution : Communauté d'Agglomération de GrandAngoulême
- City : Angoulême
- Country : France
- Type of region : Less developed
Presentation of the Territory :
The urban community of GrandAngoulême is a public institution for inter-municipal cooperation located in the department of Charente and the region of Nouvelle Aquitaine. The city center is Angoulême. GrandAngoulême covers a territory of 38 municipalities and has about 141,000 inhabitants.
Its main areas of intervention are: economic development, spatial planning, housing, urban policy, the maintenance and management of guest areas for Travellers, and waste collection and treatment.
GrandAngoulême in a few figures:
- New PIIC (Public Institution for Intercommunal Cooperation) created from the merger of 4 EPCIs on January 1, 2017 under the French Labor Act.
- 38 municipalities
- 141,345 inhabitants
- Angoulême, a city in the center, has 42,000 inhabitants (30% of the population of GrandAngoulême)
- Annual change in the population since 2008: + 0.14%
- 643 km 2
- 73,000 housing units / 8,800 housing units built between 2005 and 2015 / 12,000 public rental units / 18.2% rate of public rental units
- 65,000 jobs : GrandAngoulême itself is the subject of numerous recognitions for its innovation and expertise on its public policies. It is notably recognized at the national level, by all authorities (ministry, ...) for the experimental and innovative work carried out on land management, renaturation, brownfield management (OAP program, ORT, ...).
Project presentation:
The project aims to convert a former industrial site, in a concerted approach with an area – the meander of the Charente river - to be developed and opened to the public in the very short term.
The territory of GrandAngoulême is characterized by a large fallow land reserve: more than 1,500 on 630 ha. Since 2019, a census and characterization work on these fallow lands has refined knowledge, and will therefore allow for prioritization and activation of appropriate levers.
One of the emblematic sites is that of the former powder factory (SNPE), which is located in the commune of Angoulême, at the foot of the town center of Fléac, in a meander of the Charente. With a total area of 177 hectares in one piece, it is a historic site, with which the inhabitants have woven generation after generation a bond of belonging, by the economic and social dynamism that the activity of recent centuries has made radiate on the territory of GrandAngoulême.
Since the closure of the activity in 2004, elected officials have relied on expertise and studies and considered projects. This has made it possible today to sanctuarize the areas of biodiversity to be preserved (51 ha of afforestation) and the entire flood-prone meander, and to define the development perimeter dedicated to economic activities (70 ha). GrandAngoulême is committed with the EPF to ensure that activities are open by 2032 on at least 50% of the developable area (35 ha).
The potential that this wasteland represents for job creation on the territory, and the historical anchoring of the site are two assets to ensure a development that makes sense for the inhabitants, by relying on economic actors to reinforce the dynamism of the territory. This sector is labeled as a key site in Main France 2030. Site development will be ambitious in terms of energy performance, waste management and landscape integration.
As part of the support system "Atelier des Territoires" led by the Ministry of Ecology, development scenarios emerge for the development of activities on the site.
At the same time, discussions are underway to provide public access to the banks of the Charente, while respecting biodiversity and ensuring a safe environment for everyone.
Support from experts in complex project discussions, feedback and good practice to reconcile economic development, the preservation of biodiversity and public access to the banks would make it possible to ensure that the development of the site is consistent with the expectations of the stakeholders and inhabitants of the territory.
We are looking for a project's leader.
GrandAngoulême in Europe :
Our territory is inscribed in an international influence by its festivals, notably the International Comics Festival, by its industrial history, and by its permanent commitment to European cooperation.
GrandAngoulême has been involved for many years by taking part in or leading various projects from different European Commission programs.
GrandAngoulême therefore wishes to pursue and apply for URBACT.
Our internal organization will make it possible to mobilize the Directorate for International Cooperation through its European project manager and the planning department through its land strategy project manager and other relevant thematic directorates, as well as political representatives. newly elected for the period 2026-2032. The local fabric is active and will allow us to solicit dynamic actors to form the local group.
To illustrate our experience on European cooperation:
- GrandAngoulême is the supporting structure of a LAG – local action group – managers of ERDF and EAFRD funds.
- GrandAngoulême benefits from ERDF/ESF+ grants.
- GrandAngoulême regularly carries European cooperation projects: Horizon 2020 / INTERREG, etc.
We have two files on food resilience submitted to the Erasmus+ Program under investigation.
Find below our contacts :
European Project Manager – Nicolas Boullé – n.boulle@grandangouleme.fr
Head of Internationale Cooperation Office – Sandrine Faucon – s.faucon@grandangouleme.fr
Land Stratégy Project Manager – Aline Delatte - a.delatte@grandangouleme.fr