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CONSEIL NATIONAL: “A Town Planning Bid to Redesign the

Annonciade District will be Launched”

by Milena Radoman
The National Council plays a role in assessing public policies, including town planning. In an
interview with its President Thomas Brezzo, and Jade Auréglia, Vice-President of the Environment
Committee and a specialist in the modelling and simulation of urban and land issues in civil
engineering, the two politicians discuss key issues, including the development of the Annonciade
district.

did this. From an urban planning point of view, and have a balanced budget, we need to
it's also good that the district fits seamlessly be more flexible when it comes to granting
into the rest of the urban fabric. There are building permits.
pedestrianised areas although privacy has
been maintained to maximise the value of the In 2009, the former Minister of State Jean-
property. At €100,000 - €120,000 per m² for Paul Proust raised the idea of creating a small
some properties, it makes sense. copy of Paris’ 'La Défense' at the Annonciade.
What's become of this idea today?
Real estate remains Monaco's goldmine. T.B.: It's gone nowhere. We've known for
Mareterra has been a major source of 15 years that the school was going to be
revenue for the Principality. In addition to demolished and change site, but we still don't
a payment of 400 million euros from the know what's going to happen...
Monegasque company (SAM), it is expected J.A. : The Annonciade is one of the areas that
to generate some 720 million euros in VAT are going to be sealed off. The government
© Conseil National (20%) and registration fees, according to is starting from scratch. Between now and
December it will launch an urban planning
initial forecasts. How much has it brought
private projects have been suggested to the
T.B.: We exceeded €1.2 billion in VAT and
Jade Auréglia, Vice-Présidente de la comission de in for the State? competition to redesign the area. Some
l’Environnement registration fees. We nevertheless regret the government, but they were turned down, which
Vice-President of the Environment Committee
amount of the cash payment to the State of is understandable, because the Government
One of Monaco's biggest urban development 400,000 euros. Especially as the project has has control over its territory.
projects is the new Mareterra district. What been re-evaluated and has risen by 2 storeys.
is your political and urban assessment of J.A.: The impact of VAT and registration fees
this land reclamation project? were calculated as minimally as possible. At
Thomas Brezzo: This district is a major the time, projections were based on a price
advantage for the Principality, because we per m² between €40,000 and €100,000. The
are gaining ground surface area, which is developers sold the properties for a lot more.
rare and expensive in Monaco. However, we What's certain is that Mareterra has been a
still regret the lack of a state-owned property death blow for the procedures of the law on
in Mareterra. From a town-planning point of decommissioning. From now on, we need
view, it's a shame that the construction of clear and precise documentation in order to
buildings higher than the casino has been vote in an informed manner on legislation of
authorised, seen from sea level. And this at this kind that grants land.
a time when we're being refused projects for
high-rise buildings in Monaco, to the detriment What other projects will follow to carry on
of revenue for the State. the momentum? What projects have you
Jade Aureglia: Six extra hectares for a discussed with property developers?
Principality of 2 square kilometres is obviously T.B. : The problem is that the revenue from
a godsend. The environmental dimension of Mareterra is about to stop and there has been
the project is commendable, both in terms of no forward planning, quite the contrary. All
the innovative technologies and construction the developers are complaining that the Town © Conseil National
methods used, as well as reconstitution of the Planning Department is blocking projects or
seabed. Not everything is exemplary; many cutting them back, which is affecting their
things are done to ease our conscience, but the financial stability. Real estate is Monaco's Thomas Brezzo, Président du Conseil National
initiative is commendable. Previously, nobody goldmine, so if we want to generate revenue President of the Environment Committee

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