Reclassification of a brownfield site in Isère to create a joint development zone

Responding to the target of net zero natural land loss by 2050 is a major priority that involves consuming less natural, agricultural and forest land and favouring the reuse of land that has already been urbanised. This includes reclaiming abandoned industrial wasteland.
The mission

EPORA, the western Rhône-Alpes public land management body, has been working on behalf of the Vallons de la Tour grouping of municipalities (Isère) to reclassify the rope factory brownfield site in Saint Clair de la Tour. A former rope factory used by Dickson Constant SA, this site was a protected facility requiring authorisation. The local authority undertook to create a mixed-purpose development with a business park and housing. The ropeworks site contained:

  • Four main buildings and one house, extended  on a total ground area of 12,610 m2
  • A abandoned chimney
  • Presence of wells and contaminated groundwater
  • Decontamination of 7,500 m3 of affected material and soil (HVOCs, hydrocarbons, PCBs)

 

EPORA's assignment is to restore an empty plot ready for construction, from design studies through the follow-up and until the acceptance of the works, which includes the themes of asbestos removal, demolition and soil decontamination.

Soil remediation involves a series of services:

  • Elementary service A200: soil sampling/measurements/observation and analysis 
  • A260: sampling/measurements/observation and analysis of excavated soils
  • A270: interpreting the investigation results
  • Global CONT service (Management  of the investigation or surveillance programme/the implementation of the management measures).
Our solution

The asbestos removal, deconstruction, partial demolition and decontamination project management carried out by the SUEZ Consulting teams involved:

  • Conducting an inventory of the existing studies and diagnostics and carrying out additional studies with the EPORA agreement,
  • Carrying out a project study and a land reclassification programme 
  • Applying for urban development permits and all the other administrative work required to complete the project
  • Preparing tender documents
  • Assisting with the allocation of works contracts 
  • Delivery of implementation studies
  • Management of the works execution on the various individual projects 
  • Assisting the project client during the acceptance process 
  • Planning, management and coordination
  • Assisting the adjudicating authority if anomalies are observed following acceptance of the project or a claim is made under the completion guarantee
The results
Following the operations to remove the asbestos from the buildings, the structures were demolished, the slabs torn up and the superficial foundations cleared.


The demolition materials were crushed to a size of 0/80 mm. They were handled in accordance with the management thresholds and distributed to different processing channels depending on their pollution levels.


Polluted soils were excavated, then sent to specific treatment sectors or treated on-site with a thermopile after a feasibility study and sizing tests on the treatment workshops onsite.


The site was rehabilitated in accordance with its future industrial use. 

Guiding brownfields rehabilitation answers  two priorities: restraining urban sprawl and adapting the territory to today's and tomorrow's needs.

Nathalie Cordonnier , Senior Project Manager, SUEZ Consulting 

Meet… Nathalie Cordonnier, senior project manager and supervisor in the field of polluted sites and soils