The Saint-Omer pilot area, located in a deprived neighbourhood at the heart of the city, is part of a broader urban renewal programme aimed at transforming public spaces, particularly the requalification of the Quai des Salines. This densely populated area, positioned between two canals and characterised by its mineral-heavy structure, is highly vulnerable to heat stress and lacks sufficient greenery. The neighbourhood, which includes social and low-cost housing, also falls within a safeguarded area for heritage value (PSMV), presenting both challenges and opportunities for integrating climate adaptation measures.
The Cool Neighbourhoods project builds upon previous greening work undertaken at Montaigne school under the Cool Towns project. By focusing on softening, water management, and community engagement, the initiative seeks to create a more liveable and climate-resilient neighbourhood while maintaining its social and economic vibrancy. However, the project faces significant challenges, including limited funding, rising construction costs, and the complexity of working on the quay, which could jeopardise its timeline. Despite these hurdles, the pilot is backed by strong political support, proactive community involvement, and multiple opportunities for collaboration with regional and European partners, positioning it for long-term success.
Key Challenges and Opportunities
The requalification of Saint-Omer’s Quai des Salines highlights the difficulties of balancing heritage preservation with climate adaptation. On the one hand, political backing and active community participation present opportunities for success. On the other hand, the area’s socio-economic challenges and financial constraints pose significant risks.
This project has the potential to significantly enhance the liveability of the neighbourhood, providing cooler, greener spaces for residents while improving the overall social and economic fabric of the area. Careful planning and collaboration with partners will be crucial to overcoming financial and technical barriers and ensuring that the climate resilience efforts achieve long-lasting impact.
Key Actions for Success & Advice to the Community
✅ Enhance Community Engagement: Establish regular feedback mechanisms, such as neighbourhood workshops and public consultations, to strengthen the sense of ownership and ensure that the green infrastructure meets local needs.
✅ Improve Regional Collaboration: Partner with organisations like Climapolder and neighbouring municipalities to share knowledge, leverage resources, and align climate adaptation goals across adjacent areas.
✅ Cost-Efficient, High-Impact Green Solutions: Prioritise solutions such as rain gardens, permeable surfaces, and green walls that deliver immediate climate benefits while remaining financially feasible in the short term.
✅ Create Long-Term Maintenance Strategies: Develop a community-based maintenance plan involving local residents, social housing managers, and schools to ensure green spaces are well-maintained over time.
✅ Establish a Local Fund for Green Infrastructure: Set up a fund to support the upkeep of green infrastructure, combining municipal budgets with public-private partnerships.
✅ Integrate Green Spaces into Broader Urban Plans: Work closely with urban planners to ensure the greening efforts complement broader city objectives, such as the creation of green corridors and connections to existing parks and waterways.
✅ Align Climate Adaptation with Heritage Preservation: Collaborate with heritage conservation experts to integrate greenery into the historic fabric of the neighbourhood without compromising its heritage value under the PSMV.
Saint-Omer’s Quai des Salines pilot is a remarkable example of how a community can transform from grey to green. The process of turning an area vulnerable to heat stress into a greener, more climate-resilient neighbourhood is already underway, with careful planning, strong community involvement, and cross-regional collaboration paving the way for a more sustainable future.
Join us on this exciting journey as we continue
to reshape Saint-Omer’s landscape, creating a cooler, greener, and more
resilient neighbourhood for the future