Tiny, densely populated Monaco plans
to push back the sea to make way for luxury apartment blocks and businesses. The wealthy principality in the south of France has invited bids for the
six-hectare (14-acre) development project.
The competing bids will have to be submitted by 23 July, and the plan is to
complete the new district by 2024. Reclaiming the area from the sea is expected to cost 1bn euros (£842m). The
rocky tax haven has hardly any space onshore for new construction.
A similar project was abandoned in 2008 because of environmental concerns and
the global financial crisis. This time there will be a thorough environmental impact assessment, as the
new site lies between two protected marine conservation areas. The new
development will be near Grimaldi Forum, site of a seaside concert hall and huge
conference centre.
The Monaco government says the new district will have to meet the highest
environmental standards. Sustainable urban design will be a feature - so for
example there will be access for vehicles, but the district will favour
pedestrians and cyclists. The apartment blocks will be from six to 10 storeys high and have private
gardens.
1 comment:
Hmm. Sounds like Malibu to me. There are all these luxury homes built on the beach, and every time there is a particularly high tide or a bad storm, taxpayers have to shell out a fortune to try to save them.
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