On the vast field, buildings and pavilions should soon replace the cereals that are still grown there.
The construction of 1,270 housing units could begin within a few months on the "concerted development zone" (Zac) of Villeray, a 36 hectare site, located near the cemetery of Saint-Pierre-du-Perray.
In the next fifteen years, around 3,000 new inhabitants will thus join this municipality which currently has a little over 12,000. Supported by the State, this 36 million euro project is considered "pharaonic" by some, who denounce an "excessive concreteization" which "would strongly impact the environment, daily life and health" of residents.
Barely 1000 inhabitants in 1977
Recently, a collective launched an online petition to “rethink” the development of this area and to demand “a local referendum so that the citizens concerned can give their opinion”.
Requirements which have already collected nearly 37,000 signatures.
“Saint-Pierre-du-Perray is a town that has already given enough in terms of construction, breathes Marie-France Winghardt, former elected Communist opposition, on the initiative of this text.
There were 987 inhabitants in 1977, we are now at nearly 13,000, with a patchwork of districts without any coherence.
"
But other issues also concern this activist.
“The risk is also more traffic jams, when we already have it morning and evening, but also more pollution, an interrupted green network, safety problems, etc., she abounds.
All this while we have very few jobs on site and aging infrastructures.
"
"Why not build, but it must be done intelligently," adds Marie-France Ducroquet, opposition municipal councilor (various left) in Saintry - a neighboring town - who joined the collective with other members of her group.
These are old patterns, we have to rethink this model.
"
A model dating from the 1970s. During this period, the State decided to launch the construction of several new towns to cope with growing demography.
Created in 1973, the new town of Sénart brings together 12 municipalities - two in Essonne and ten in Seine-et-Marne.
The State then buys back all the land and expropriates the farmers concerned who are compensated in compensation.
Essonne Newsletter
Every morning, the news of your department seen by Le Parisien
I'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to enable you to receive our news and commercial offers.
Learn more
Since then, urban planning projects have regularly emerged in certain areas, such as Villeray.
Through the intermediary of the Public Development Establishment (EPA), the State then resells its land to developers.
And is supposed to build in return the necessary sports, cultural or school infrastructures.
"All this is very supervised," assures Aude Debreil, the general manager of the EPA Sénart.
There are very strong requirements in terms of consultation and consideration of the environment.
"
The Zac de Villeray project was initiated by the former mayor of Saint-Pierre-du-Perray in 2014. “He then followed all the required steps,” explains Aude Debreil.
There was a consultation phase with public meetings, workshops with local residents… Then environmental impact studies before the Zac was approved in 2019. ”
This professional also wants to reassure.
“This is an operation that will take place over at least 15 years.
We are a long way from the massive concretization announced.
"
2,200 pending housing applications
It now remains to define the infrastructure that will have to be built in return.
"I am currently negotiating with the EPA," explains Dominique Verots, the new mayor (without label).
We have to see what the state is ready to commit to.
Because the project must be thought of as a whole.
We need to have the necessary equipment alongside.
"
“The old majority had negotiated a relay of childminders and a youth center, but this is not enough, he believes.
For example, we absolutely need a high school.
But you also need enough municipal officials, an Ile-de-France that goes from two to three lanes, etc.
As for the local referendum, the city councilor assures us that he is not opposed to it, "but you have to ask the right questions.
“I am not for building to build,” he insists, while recalling that he currently has 2,200 housing applications pending in his town.
