Sustainable development, a cross-functional approach


In true keeping with the conclusions of the Grenelle Environment Roundtable, EPAMARNE and EPAFRANCE have committed to a sustainable settlement approach. Their objective is to make Marne-la-Vallée into an eco-territory, conducive to a positive quality of life for its inhabitants, attractive, and environmentally-friendly. Introduced in 2009 during the first Assizes on Sustainable Development, this approach has now percolated throughout all EPA initiatives.


The three pillars of sustainable development have always been part of EPA initiatives: the social aspect (diversity, entitlement to services, transport, etc.), the economic aspect (balanced business development) and the environmental aspect (natural area enhancement, water resources savings and rainwater management, etc.).
  
At this time, in keeping with Grenelle Acts I and II, sustainable development is becoming a key structural element in EPA territorial strategy.

The first Marne-la-Vallée Conference on Sustainable Development at Hotel Dream Castle in Disneyland Resort Paris, February 2009 © EPAMARNE / Photo: Jean-Paul HOUDRY
The Alto Ingénierie Company in the Gué Langlois Business Park at Bussy Saint-Martin © Epamarne / Architecte : AA. FERARU / Photo : Eric MORENCY
   
  • Meeting the challenges raised by Grenelle acts

Three years ago, the Environment Roundtable defined the overall thrusts regarding water, biodiversity, waste, etc. Grenelle Acts I and II then supplied a far more precise framework, and the EPAs have adapted those expectations to their developer practices.
These are being applied across a substantial area, which demands that they work according to three different scales: Marne-la-Vallée and urban entities, ZACs and neighbourhoods, and lastly the plots. 

The approach includes four action steps, the first of which is to adapt global issues to the area. EPAs are thus taking part in developing the territorial consistency schemes, sharing their perspective with the Val Maubuée and Val d’Europe New Town Associations, and with the Marne-et-Gondoire town community.
In Val d’Europe, the partnership goes even further, by developing a shared sustainable development charter. The EPAs, together with local authorities and the Government, also plan on completing 11 eco-neighbourhoods, two of which are already committed, namely Montévrain and the Sycomore in Bussy Saint-Georges.

 

  • Working together to enhance the natural heritage

The second action step involves natural areas to be enhanced. Accordingly, a discussion has begun about the interactions between urbanised areas and open spaces, in order to provide urban settlements that will use less space, thus helping enhance non-built-up areas, whether woods, farmland or water.
The same goes for the enhancement of biodiversity within urban settings, as well as for reducing fossil energy use.

The third step aims at setting up new project momentum. Through the Sustainable Development Consultation Committee, a new governance is putting all area players together, and this partnership is being materialised through wide-scale projects – Descartes Cluster, Villages Nature, urban farming development, etc. – involving EPAs, side by side with the Government and public and private partners.

Lastly, the fourth step is about applying a sustainable approach to all EPA professional practices: the Cerqual certification for new housing operations, the BBC labelling (bâtiment basse consommation / low-energy buildings), the cooperation and participation approach, environmental instructions, etc.
  
Moreover, an internal training programme has been set up in order to inform and support project teams regarding topics that are undergoing constant technical and regulatory change.