The PALME approach on the Terrasses de Coquelles site

There are three main advantages in adopting the PALME APPROACH for the Terrasses de Coquelles site :

• Guaranteeing the environmental continuity and sustainable development of the site through a long-term vision of its development. This is ensured by the discussions between the different parties concerned and the signing of the PALME charter.
• Creating a new reference in terms of welcoming new companies that care about environmental concerns and wish to portray a positive image of their actions.
• Offering services that are adapted to the companies that set up here

It is important to underline that the PALME charter is not a contractual document. It is a commitment “in good faith” between economic and associative institutions that are aware of the importance of sustainable development.

The Terrasses de Coquelles PALME charter was signed on October 28th by the members of the PALME committee.

The application of this PALME charter is organised into four main themes :

• Every day life in the business park (organising the installation of companies / proposing complementary services for those companies / diversifying the transport modes within the business park)
• Landscaping and upkeep (keeping the site attractive throughout its lifespan / helping clients and investors to realise their own projects / guaranteeing balanced public/private sector management of green areas economically and with respect for the environment)
• Water management (designing, building and maintaining the water recovery and drainage network in common areas and on each unit)
• Environmentally-friendly buildings and activities (promoting the ‘sustainable building’ approach for all structures on the zone / promoting an environmentally-friendly waste management programme on site)

These priorities will be followed up by the PALME committee who will meet up at least once a year.

Certain action has already been taken both during the feasibility study and during the servicing works. For a clearer idea, here are a few examples :

 

Landscaping and upkeep

A ‘pre-greening’ of the site was carried out during the servicing works in order to enhance the ‘sustainable building’ potential of the plant. The idea was to guarantee a varied flora and fauna, provide protection from the prevailing winds, and insulate the zone from noise coming from the motorway…
The business park’s upkeep is assigned to farmers who operated in the area before construction work commenced. Their mission is to work on site for the whole of the business park’s lifespan planting environmentally-friendly trees and shrubs using green fertilisers. This will guarantee the upkeep of the landscaping in the long-term.

 

 

Water management

All surface water in common areas is to be absorbed into the ground through landscaped ditches and infiltration gutters.
As for treatment of rain water in each unit, we have created a recommendations booklet that will be passed on to each investor.

 

 

 

Environmentally-friendly buildings and activities

Each application for a building permit will be examined by our urban architecture advisor who will make sure that urban planning rules and the Terrasses de Coquelles charter are respected.