The feasibility of relocation of properties and activities in the face of coastal risks in Lacanau

Abstract

The coastline in Lacanau is intensely affected by erosion: on average, it retreats 1 meter every year, and by as much as 25 meters in the winter of 2013-2014. As part of the national call for projects on the relocation of properties and activities, the « Littoral Aquitain » public interest group and the municipality of Lacanau have jointly conducted a study to assess the feasibility of the relocation of 1194 dwellings and commercial premises. After two years of studies and the extensive work of a multidisciplinary team, major conclusions have been drawn. The case of Lacanau shows that the participation of the population in the development of a territorial project can help in finding ambitious solutions for adapting to coastal risks. The operational implementation of such a project is however hindered by the lack of means to preventively deconstruct private properties that are threatened in the short, medium or long term on the sandy coastal areas. The project ended with a number of innovative proposals to make future relocation projects possible.