The Lyon La Duchère Project, a conurbation at stake

Built in the early 1960s, La Duchère was the State's solution to the acute housing shortage at the time. Thousands of families settled into La Duchère, creating a strong local identity and building a social life that today is still very rich. In the 1970s, La Duchère housed around 20,000 people. In 2003, there were only 12,500 residents. With its concentration of social housing, the increasingly fragile socio-economic situation of the population, the downgrading of property and urbanism no longer in step with modern lifestyles, it was apparent from the early 1980s that the solution was no longer working and was leading to growing disaffection.

This is why the decision was taken to make the site a "Grand Projet de Ville" (GPV) over the period 2003-2012 in order to implement a proactive policy to upgrade the district. Supported by the City of Lyon, Greater Lyon, the Rhône Département, the Rhône Alpes region, the State, the "Agence nationale pour la rénovation urbaine", (ANRU) Europe and their partners, the Lyon-La Duchère Project aims to make this district a more attractive, more open and more balanced living space. This new chapter in La Duchère's history is being cowritten with local residents and those actively involved in the local community, who rightly aspire to live in a lively area with a pleasant living environment. To this end, the urban renewal taking place in La Duchère is part of an approach to built-up urban areas that aims to find a balance between living conditions and quality of life.

An all encompassing project

As with the 50 other "Grands Projets de Villes" being carried out across the country, the Lyon-la Duchère Project is a total project: social development and urban restructuring are inextricably linked. The urban project is organized around two main lines. Creating an east-west link means that the La Duchère district will be opened up, as it will be connected with the economic centres of activity and the towns on the west side of Lyon, so that La Duchère will enjoy a coveted position in the Lyon outer ring where it can capitalize on its exceptional geographic position on this Lyon hillside. On the La Duchère Plateau, an esplanade will attract local activity around a vibrant centre, bringing together shops, services and public facilities, so that everyone can access them more easily.

The housing layout will be readjusted so as to give the district a more distinct "urban" setting. Plans to build many public and school facilities to make the district more attractive and enhance the quality of life in La Duchère include schools, a public library, Maison du département du Rhône, a family community centre "Maison des fêtes et des familles", an athletics stadium big enough to hold regional events, a gymnasium... The partners in the "Grand Projet de Ville" are also working hard to improve the daily lives of local residents throughout the whole duration of the project by upgrading playgrounds, football pitches, urban street furniture, car parks, street lighting, cleanliness, making public spaces safe.