Context

The objective of limiting soil sealing is an important element of the policies implemented in many countries to meet climate challenges. In France, this is reflected in the Zero Net Artificialization law instituted by the Climate and Resilience Act.
The result is a paradigm shift for local authorities and developers. Since the middle of the 20th century, the dominant model for urban development has been based on relatively abundant and inexpensive land, which has led to a continuous expansion of urbanized areas. The new context of sobriety – or even scarcity – of land is prompting the development of a development model based on more compact, denser forms and the recycling of already urbanized land.
Nomao leverages its expertise in territorial development and economic land management to support development players. The reference presented here was carried out for a conurbation of 250,000 inhabitants in northern France (confidential assignment).

Our Mission

The mission entrusted to Nomao focused on a diagnostic assessment of all economic land assets, including community zones, municipal zones, and scattered economic land. This analysis identified key challenges:

• Low density in economic activity zones (ZAE): Due to restrictive planning regulations, numerous underutilized spaces, and land reserves held by private owners, economic zones remain underdeveloped. Additionally, commercial areas face high vacancy rates.
• Lack of knowledge and intervention tools for scattered economic land (outside ZAE): This category represents a significant share (50%) of available economic land, yet remains poorly understood and lacks effective policy instruments for management and intervention.
• Limited public intervention capacity in existing ZAE: The traditional development model based on land sales offers local authorities minimal leverage to influence or optimize the use of economic land.

Nomao’s Strategic Recommendations for Economic Land Management

To address these challenges, Nomao proposed a new land management strategy based on:

• Adjusting urban planning regulations to encourage higher-density developments and a greater mix of economic activities.
• Developing dedicated tools, such as a land observatory and specialized land management entities, to improve monitoring of scattered economic land and strengthen public intervention capabilities.
• Reserving community zones for medium- and large-scale projects aligned with the region’s economic strategy, particularly in support of productive industries.
• Gradual implementation of long-term land leases (baux à construction) to maintain public control over key economic land assets and ensure strategic land management over time.

This structured approach aims to optimize land use, support economic development, and enhance the resilience of local land policies.