The implementation of Zero Net Artificialization (ZAN) of Soils has clearly not yet borne fruit, according to the latest figures revealed by Cerema. If the number of hectares consumed in France has decreased very slightly in 2022, the average remains around 20,000 hectares per year.
Artificial surfaces decreased slightly in 2022, according to the Center for Studies and Experience on Risks, Environment, Movement and Development (Cerema).
In 2022, 20,276 hectares were consumedcompared to 20,011 in 2021, which marks the end of an upward trend started since 2019. Note that the year 2019 was an exception, with only 19,491 hectares consumed.
However, this decline should be interpreted ” with caution “, according to the authors of the report, while the number of consumed hectares would remain ” of the same order of magnitude as in previous years “.
63% of artificial land intended for housing
In 2022, 63% of artificial land was intended for housing, and 23% for economic activity. this year, 38.5 million m2 were authorized for construction for housing, ie a stable balance compared to the previous year.
Regarding surfaces authorized for economic activity, they are increasing, with 38.6 million m2 in 2022, compared to 36.3% in 2021.
In details, 68% of space consumption occurred in rural communitiescompared to 7% in dense municipalities.
Buildings are increasingly dense
Among the positive points, constructions consume less and less space. Thus, 1 hectare today allows the construction of 2,538 m2 of buildings in 2021, compared to only 1,950 m2 in 2011, which represents 30% more in 10 years.
According to the authors of the report, this could be explained in particular by the densification and urban recycling policies.
As a reminder, the law on Climate and Resilience of 2021 sets a goal of halving the rate of soil concreting by 2031, compared to the decade 2011-2021, to go from 250,000 to 125 hectares consumed, before reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.
According to the Observatory of Land Artificialization, France is currently losing the equivalent of almost five football fields per hour.