On February 28, 2025, Caroline Ricouart, European Programmes Project Officer at Ville de Saint-Omer, participated in the annual review of the urban renewal project for the Quais district of Saint-Omer (ANRU). The meeting brought together state representatives, local elected officials, and urban planning stakeholders to discuss ongoing and future initiatives aimed at enhancing the resilience and liveability of the neighbourhood.
Highlighting the Role of European Projects
During the session, Marion Jesel, ANRU Project Manager at CAPSO, invited Caroline to speak about European projects and their relevance to the neighbourhood’s specific vulnerabilities. Many of the questions raised aligned closely with the data collected for the Cool Neighbourhoods Liveability Index (CNLI), allowing for valuable insights to be shared. The deliberate choice to implement Cool Neighbourhoods (CN) in the QPV area demonstrates a strong alignment with state priorities for urban renewal and climate resilience.
Collaboration Between Cool Neighbourhoods and Cool Cities
Saint-Omer is at the heart of both the Cool
Neighbourhoods and Cool Cities projects, ensuring a coordinated approach to
climate adaptation. The pilot sites in the Quai des Salines (2024-2027) and Rue
du Pélicorne (2024-2027) focus on:
✅ Urban greening and nature-based solutions to reduce heat stress
✅ Resilience planning, including vulnerability mapping and habitability
assessments
✅ Sustainable mobility, promoting walking and cycling infrastructure
✅ Community engagement, ensuring residents play an active role in shaping
their environment
European Collaboration Driving Local Impact
This meeting was an opportunity to highlight the tangible impact of European initiatives on local urban policies. The Cool Neighbourhoods Liveability Index is playing a crucial role in assessing climate resilience, while risk mapping and environmental analyses from Cool Cities are informing future urban planning. The collaboration between Ville de Saint-Omer (VSO), CAPSO, and AUD has fostered a strong project team focused on integrating nature-based solutions into urban renewal.
Next Steps
The insights from this meeting will further refine Saint-Omer’s approach to climate-adaptive urban planning. Continued collaboration between Cool Neighbourhoods and Cool Cities will ensure that urban resilience strategies align with both local and European priorities.
🔗 For more details, visit: Ville de Saint-Omer - Cool Neighbourhoods
📽️ Watch the project video: YouTube
#CoolNeighbourhoods #CoolCities #UrbanResilience #ClimateAdaptation #SustainableCities #FromGreyToGreen #NatureBasedSolutions #SaintOmer #ANRU
Image: Saint Omer Team