In Lyon, the old Nexans halls are given a new lease of life

For several years, the Nexans halls hosted electrical and telephone wiring activities. Among the companies that paraded on the site, we find the French electric cable company Berthoud, Borel et Cie (SFCE), the company Cables de Lyon, Alcatel Cable and Nexans. In 2013, the latter put an end to its industrial activities. Five years later, the Métropole de Lyon and Bouygues Immobilier each bought around half of the land (4 hectares for Bouygues Immobilier and 4.3 hectares for the metropolis).

Located in the 7th arrondissement of Lyon, near the Jean Macé metro station, this wasteland already houses the Gisèle Halimi college and will house the future campus of the Lyon management school (EM Lyon) in 2024. In order to continue its facelift , Bouygues Immobilier and the city have unveiled a new mixed urban project: it “(…) rests on two central elements. First of all the functional mix, which makes it possible to reconcile 20% economic activities, half of which are productive activities, and an ambitious housing program with 50% affordable housing, including 5% BRS. On the other hand, the project revolves around the development of an urban park of 1.5 hectares which contributes to the rebalancing of the supply of plants, and offers an island of freshness and a place to live, more pleasant activities and studies (…)“; declares Bruno Bernard, president of the metropolis.

Housing, economic and craft activities, and preserved halls

In detail, on the land of Bouygues Immobilier, there will be a mixed residential real estate complex (455 housing units, 50% of which are affordable housing – social housing and solidarity real lease – BRS) and economic of 49,000 m² of floor area. Also on the program: student rooms, the creation of craft activities, offices and shops. As for the two historic halls, industrial symbols of the place, they will be preserved and rehabilitated in order to accommodate a specific accommodation offer (coliving), a third place and shared offices. For its part, the city of Lyon has planned to create a park of approximately 1.5 hectares which will be designed as a true island of freshness. “The design of the park and the final management will be ensured by the direction of Biodiversity and nature in the city of the City of Lyon“, specifies the metropolis.

Start of works in 2025

What about the next steps? Between now and this summer, a partnership urban project agreement (PUP) will be signed between Bouygues Immobilier, the Métropole and the City of Lyon. This PUP, the lump sum of which reaches 7.5 million euros, aims to finance the public facilities generated by the future district: school, crèche and public spaces. Regarding the works, we will have to wait a little longer. Currently occupied by La Cité des Halles, a transitional hybrid place, and two Habitat et Humanisme accommodation villages, the site will see its first pickaxes in 2025.