The Paris Council imposes new building rules in the face of climate change

"In the face of climate and social emergencies that are worsening every day, we must step up our action." At the time of opening this Monday morning the debates of the Council of Paris on the new local urban plan, this administrative document that must imagine the face of the capital for the next twenty years, the mayor (PS) wanted to show a proactive face. "We must accelerate our action because heat waves are multiplying and the effects of climate change are becoming more violent every day."

Unlike what happened in 2006, when they chose to abstain, the ecologists voted for the text. Because they present as a document of "rupture" with what had applied over the last fifteen years in terms of densification of the city. Here are the main new rules.

Social housing at the top of the agenda

With the objective of reaching 40% public housing by 2035, the municipal majority reaffirms its desire to make housing its priority. Social diversity in all neighbourhoods also remains in the sights of Anne Hidalgo's team. To achieve this, the future PLU distinguishes three sectors in the city: the non-deficit in social housing, for neighborhoods with at least 30%; the deficit sector, where the share of social housing is between 10 and 30%; the hyperdeficit zone, where the share falls below 10%. In the latter sector, any project (construction, renovation, etc.) must include at least 50% social housing.

In the deficit area, this rate rises to 35%. And in neighborhoods already largely provided with social housing, the City aims for a third of housing under solidarity real lease (BRS) in each program. These rules will apply to any project over 500 m2. At the same time, the City will continue to acquire vacant housing for contracts, in order to transform it into social housing.

Office freeze in business districts

In neighborhoods lacking social housing, and in particular the business districts of the eighth and seventeenth arrondissements, the City has identified 600 buildings that will become "reserved spaces". In the event of a major restructuring, change of destination or elevation, the owners will have to transform all or part of the building into housing, including social housing.

More room and protection for green spaces

In the future PLU, trees should be better safeguarded. The City wants to protect 100,000 trees and 250 "remarkable" trees. The open ground will also be better preserved. 30% of open land will be imposed for any new construction rising on a plot of at least 150 m2. The percentage of full land on the plot will then be proportional to the size of the plot concerned. Green will have to occupy 65% of the surface of land over 5,000 m2. Target for 2050: 40% of open ground. 90 ha of protected green spaces will also be sanctuarized in the heart of the block. The municipal team has set itself the goal of 300 ha of new green spaces accessible to Parisians by 2040.

Building height limited to 37 m

No more tricks! And in future development areas, buildings must not exceed 37 m. As for building elevations in tracks less than 12 m wide, the height rules currently applicable will be reduced. On the other hand, in streets whose width exceeds 15 m, an additional floor will be possible but under conditions (it will have to give rise to social housing, greening, participate in the thermal renovation of the building ...).

Stop construction near the ring road

Under pressure from environmentalists, the surroundings of the ring road became unbuildable on a strip 10 to 25 m wide. The only exception: on land already built, elevations will be allowed for sports equipment.