The ‘Démarche Grand Chanter’ in France—How to Reduce the Impacts of Mega Transport Infrastructure Projects and Enhance Territorial Development

Abstract

Given the magnitude of infrastructures such as the Lyon–Turin rail link, their implementation represents a potentially powerful driver for development of the crossed territories, during both their construction phase and their future utilisation. However, experience has shown that such construction projects rarely result in as many positive impacts as initially expected by the territories and the promoters of the infrastructure. At a time when local authorities and territories are increasingly recognised for their primary role in spatial planning, it is no longer acceptable to impose an infrastructure on a territory without accompanying it with due consideration and a well-thought-out policy to integrate the infrastructure within the area concerned. This is precisely the objective of the Lyon–Turin Démarche Grand Chantier.