Metropolitan area of LilleSpatial dynamics and strategic planning

The Metropolitan development of Lille

The metropolitan area of Lille represents a dynamic structure of urban agglomerations that have been formed overtime and is still evolving, following more recent changes in the national territorial cohesion planning framework ofFrance. The central position of Lille and its economic values makes its urban context a real ‘metropolitan heart’. Thegeographical location of the Lille Metropolitan Area is exceptional as it is at the crossroads between major Europeancapitals such as Paris, London and Brussels. This brings an unique cross-border perspective of the metropolitandevelopment of Lille and development issues such as commuting, population distribution and marginalization inrelation to these European capitals. The present economic dynamism have enabled the region to develop a genuinelogistic approach, which has helped making the case for the Seine-North Europe canal.

• The key challenges in the metropolitan developmentof Lille arise from the need to increase the economicprosperity and sustainability of the cross-border areabetween France and Belgium. As an uniquemetropolitan cluster with intensifying urban functions,exchange of public services and economic activitiesthe area shall be part of the coherent strategic plan.

• In order to effectively manage urban sprawl andtraffic congestion the national government should alsorecognise the Coal mining belt as part of themetropolitan polycentric structure of LMA.

• Key issues on the metropolitan agenda, include:

oEnhancing the collaboration across theintercommunal cooperation bodies and their landuse plans (PLU), strategic spatial plans (SCOTs), andthe future SRADDET plans.

oMobilizing stakeholders, including businesses topromote regional innovation.

o Improving accessibility and mobility, employmentand reduce social imbalance.

o Improving the environment and quality of life.

Map of the MDA of Lille

Current spatial development challenges Metropolitan Development Area (MDA)

• The MDA of Lille represents the “Aire Métropolitaine deLille” or Lille Metropolitan Area (LMA), covering 7,516km2 with population of about 3.9 million inhabitantsand density of 520 inh./km2. It is a cross-border urbanconurbation covering 682 municipalities (622 in Franceand 60 in Belgium).

• The LMA has been supported by a collaborationformerly led by “Aire Métropolitaine de Lille”. Althoughthe Association has been dissolved the territorial extendof the collaboration is currently acknowledged in theSRADDET plan as the key metropolitan perspective.

• The LMA collaboration consists of the importantconurbation and a formal body of MEL (MétropoleEuropéenne de Lille) which is a constituent area withinthe EGTC ELKT (Eurometropolis Lille Kortrijk Tournai).

• LMA is much larger than FUA and is densely populatedin its core. Due to its large size and cross-borderdimension, the overall urban sprawl appears relativelylow, but more intense towards the North.

Map of the Urban Sprawl in MDA, FUA and MUA of Lille

Strategic priorities, opportunities and incentives

References:

SPIMA final report https://www.espon.eu/metropolitan-areas

Progress in Metropolitan Planning Approach based on eight action areas• The current national framework for coherent spatialdevelopment provides a strong basis and is an incentivefor promoting collaboration across local administrativeboundaries and for achieving better coherence betweenthe strategic plans (SCoTs, Inter-SCoTs and SRADDET).Yet specific planning tools need to be developed forimplementing the future SRADDED plan.

•By enhancing the multi-level institutional collaborationand developing a shared vision on the Metropolitandevelopment new opportunities are seen for improvingthe territorial cohesion and the attractiveness of thecross-border metropolis.

• Limiting population fluxes, assuring high standards forliving conditions and protecting the natural environmentare key strategic priorities, aiming to improve theimbalances in migration of population, and the provisionof housing, jobs and transportation.

• European support is a key initiative for initiating cross-border collaboration initiatives. • Based on the current strategic planning framework

several action areas are in progress. There is a goodunderstanding achieved about the key metropolitanchallenges and the urban development trends.

• Efforts are still needed in strengthening theadministrative capacity and the competences of thelocal authorities in maintaining a collaboration process.

• The current implementation gap between the existingstrategic plans and the spatial plans of the individualmunicipalities need to be bridged.

• The cross-border aspects need to be embedded in thecurrent strategic planning process.

• Involving relevant actors from the private and the non-governmental sectors needs to be strengthened inorder to foster better recognition of the mutualbenefits.

• A shared-governance process is needed to bedeveloped at cross-border scale and between theMetropolitan authorities of MEL and the Region.

• The most relevant policy interventions include:

o Establishment of a coordination framework withclear division of competences in planning betweenregional structures and the intercommunalcooperation bodies (“vertical” cooperation).

o Facilitating collaborative process between theintercommunal cooperation bodies with planningcompetences (“horizontal” cooperation).

SOEI matrix of the Metropolitan city of Lille

This flyer has been published within the framework of the ESPON –EGTC project:Spatial dynamics and strategic planning in metropolitan areas (SPIMA)

Key recommendations and relevant policy tools