An area
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Marne-la-Vallée WESTERN HUB

Development potentials around the Descartes Cluster project

In preparation for a cluster of excellence for Greater Paris, stretching for 1,500 hectares across the municipalities of Noisy-le-Grand and Champs-sur-Marne, the development of Descartes Cluster aims at promoting the bridging between advanced education, research and companies working towards the concepts of sustainable cities and construction.

The project designed by Ateliers Lion, winner of the international development competition, is based on issues of infrastructure, transport and mobility, also making use of the nature areas that represent one of the site’s key benefits. Accordingly, it plans “carbon-free” neighbourhoods, the opening of the city on to the nature areas, as well as a multimodal station project that would act as a major hub with the arrival of the automated metro, as part of the Greater Paris scheme.

Building the city from the city

In response to a number of requests from local authorities in Marne-la-Vallée, the EPAs (Local Planning and Development Authorities) have set up appropriate means to contribute to the city’s renewal. Thus the refurbishment of the Arche Guédon neighbourhood in Torcy and of the Luzard neighbourhood in Noisiel, both of which are among the first neighbourhoods to be completed in Val Maubuée, is part of an economic and urban growth momentum that is stimulated by the Descartes Cluster, which is opening up new perspectives for all municipalities in the area.

The ongoing rise of both these ambitious projects requires the acting strategy to be worked out collectively, as well as the setting up of a dedicated multidisciplinary team, coordinated land, real-estate and social engineering operations, and the inclusion of the sustainable development aspect. Such is the course of action which authorities in Torcy and Noisiel are committed to, in association with the Val Maubuée SAN (New Town Association). This initiative also reflects the EPA’s determination to be a long-lasting area player.

Bussy Saint-Georges

Bussy Saint-Georges is the municipality which has experienced the highest growth these past few years. Today it has 20,000 inhabitants, 10,000 housing units (30% individual and 70% collective), and it is continuing its expansion eastwards with the ZAC du Sycomore (Designated development area).

Its future eco-neighbourhood, called “Le Sycomore”, will host from 3,000 to 5,000 housing units by 2030. It will have a segregated-lane bus route, and a second RER station could be built. A programme of facilities (day care centres, school complexes) and proximity retail and services is also planned. The city park and a number of green spaces will provide a quality lifestyle setting, thus facilitating the transition from listed nature areas like the Brosse and Gondoire Valleys.

Marne-la-Vallée EASTERN HUB

The eastern hub comprises the municipalities of Chanteloup-en-Brie, Jossigny and Montévrain, as well as the five municipalities of Val d’Europe: Bailly-Romainvilliers, Chessy, Coupvray, Magny-le-Hongre and Serris. This was done in this way for significant territorial reasons. Destined to become Greater Paris’ “tourism cluster”, it represents one of Marne-la-Vallée’s foremost areas for potential development.

Plaine d’Europe

• Montévrain: With 659 housing units as specific residences and about a thousand family housing units already completed, as well as about 500 family units to be completed from 2011 to 2013, Montévrain-Val d’Europe has been experiencing substantial growth for the past ten years.
  Indeed, the eco-neighbourhood agreement signed by the Government, the municipality and EPAMARNE in 2009 calls for the development of one thousand additional housing units and 150 units as specific residences, at a rate of 200 initiated every year.

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  Chanteloup-en-Brie: As part of the Marne-et-Gondoire Municipalities Association, Chanteloup-en-Brie is gently getting urbanised, extending the original town and in complete harmony with surrounding nature areas and farming land. The diversity and quality of available housing, as well as the proximity retail and services provide a selection of residential choices appropriate to all kinds of residents.
  With its 152 new housing units and 91 units in serviced senior homes launched in 2010, the municipality is pursuing its ongoing development. New operations are planned soon, especially a hotel-restaurant and some exemplary houses in terms of sustainable development.

Val d’Europe 

Val d’Europe is booming. As the leading tourist site in Europe with 16 million visitors every year, Val d’Europe enjoys a regional-scope shopping centre, two RER stations and a TGV hub linking major French and international metropolises. It currently hosts 25,500 inhabitants, 14,500 of which are employed, and has 27,500 jobs. In all, 10,000 housing units have been built, including 1,300 in youth residences.

The signing of a new amendment to the 1987 agreement by the French Prime Minister in September 2010, together with the Project in the Public Interest (P.I.G.), have opened up new perspectives for growth throughout the area: to continue with urban development, to reinforce the tourist destination, to promote Val d’Europe as a major economic growth centre in Eastern Ile-de-France, to meet sustainable development demands and to guarantee easy access to the site. Accordingly, 11,000 to 12,000 new housing units are planned as part of the P.I.G, taking all schemes into account. About 3,000 family housing units and units as specific residences will be developed by EPAFRANCE in the coming years.