3. Local Plans in France

1. 3.1. Overview of Local Plans
2. 3.2. Plan Local d’Urbanisme
3. 3.3. Carte Communale
4. 3.4. Risk Prevention Plans
5. 3.5. Conservation Areas

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3.5. Conservation Areas in France

The local council or central government may choose to declare a conservation area if they consider it to be an area of outstanding aesthetic or historical interest.

There are three types of conservation area.

1. i. The area may be a Secteur Sauvegardé, which are zones designated within town or city centres. The designation is normally accompanied by a Plan de sauvegarde et de mise en valeur (PSMV). Designation is at the discretion of the central government. The areas are often called Malraux, after the Minister who introduced the law and fiscal incentives available to those who invest in these areas. New designations are now rare, as they have been superceded by the ZPPAUP, discussed below.
2. ii. The Zone de Protection du Patrimoine Architectural, Urbain et Paysager (ZPPAUP) post-date the Secteur Sauvegardé, which they are tending to replace. They are determined by the local council. They are often smaller in size, based around an historic monument or sensitive areas in rural locations.
3. iii. Although more of ecological than architectural interest there are also Zones naturelles d’intérêt écologique, faunistique et floristique (ZNIEFF).

There are also particular rules relating to building along the coastline, in mountain areas and in proximity to a forest.

In each case there are additional constraints on development and, in the case of i. and ii. there may also be financial assistance towards the restoration of a property.

There are formal procedures in place involving the public where the council is considering the creation of new conservation areas.

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