France: European Union supports Seine-Maritime department’s Ambition Collèges Plan

• European Investment Bank grants EUR 80m loan for refurbishment of 16 lower secondary schools – collèges – in the department.
• A significant climate component, with an expected reduction in energy consumption of up to 53% and in CO₂ emissions of up to 62%.

Bertrand Bellanger, President of the Seine-Maritime department, today signed with Ambroise Fayolle, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), a loan contract of EUR 80m for the reconstruction, extension and refurbishment of 16 lower secondary schools.

The Seine-Maritime department has adopted a cautious approach to stabilise investment and has chosen to enter into this multiannual finance contract with the EIB under the “Ambition Collèges 2017-2024” Plan. This Plan was adopted by the department on 10 October 2016 and is updated regularly to take account of changing needs. This project consists of operations involving work, equipment and services for state collèges in the department, which will serve to maintain the high quality buildings required to meet the educational needs of the department's students.

From all the projects included in this plan, the EIB has selected 20 with a total eligible cost of EUR 163m. These are new constructions or substantial rehabilitation operations concerning school buildings, associated sports facilities, cooking and catering areas and two cross-cutting operations in support of state collèges over the period 2020-2024.

In concrete terms, the loan will concern 18 investment operations in 16 schools and two cross-cutting operations in the areas of energy efficiency and accessibility.  

These operations are intended, in particular, to:

• Enhance the teaching and learning environment while at the same time streamlining the number of places available in accordance with changes in demand.
• Modernise facilities that have become obsolete, including sports facilities. 
• Facilitate access for people with reduced mobility.
• Adapt the infrastructure of collèges to new teaching methods by introducing areas for group activities and modern digital and scientific equipment.
• Improve ancillary services, including catering facilities.
• Increase the energy efficiency of the buildings.

Among these objectives, the EIB places particular emphasis on projects designed to increase energy efficiency and reduce the department's average carbon footprint.

In accordance with the EU Directive on the energy performance of buildings (EPBD), all new public buildings must be ‘nearly zero-energy’ as from 2020. Ultimately, the energy consumption of these buildings could fall by up to 53% each year while CO₂ emissions will be reduced by up to 62%.

“As the EU's climate bank, we are delighted to be able to support education and regional cohesion in Seine-Maritime while at the same time combating climate change, which is one of the EU's main priorities”, explained EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle.

“Since 2016, the department has been seeking to diversify its sources of finance. Although the department does not have any difficulty financing its investments at present, we must remain cautious and foster new relationships with other lenders”, said President of the Seine-Maritime department Bertrand Bellanger.

The operations concerned are as follows:

Municipalities	Schools	Description of work
Oissel	Collège Charcot	Reconstruction of entire school
Doudeville	Collège André Raimbourg	Construction of catering facilities Restructuring of vacated area
Yerville	Collège Henri de Navarre	Reconstruction of entire school
Goderville	Collège André Gide	Reconstruction or restructuring of entire school
Le Havre	Collège Romain Rolland	Reconstruction of entire school
Luneray	Collège Maeterlink	Reconstruction of entire school
Sotteville-les-Rouen	Collège Jean Zay	Reconstruction of staff accommodation
Gonfreville l’Orcher	Collège Gustave Courbet	Reconstruction or restructuring of entire school
Saint-Nicolas d’Aliermont	Collège Claude Monet	Reconstruction of catering facilities
Saint-Nicolas d’Aliermont	Collège Claude Monet	Construction of gymnasium
Boos	Collège Abaquesne	Reconstruction/extension of catering facilities
La Feuillie	Collège la Hétraie	Construction of catering facilities Restructuring of vacated area
Mesnil-Esnard	Collège Hector Malot	Construction of catering facilities Restructuring of vacated area
Sainte-Adresse	Collège La Hève	Restructuring of catering facilities Extension of classrooms
Sotteville-les-Rouen	Collège Jean Zay	Reconstruction of a “Pailleron”-type prefab building
Clères	Collège Jean Delacour	Restructuring/extension of catering facilities
Bacqueville-en-Caux	Collège Guy de Maupassant	Construction of catering facilities Restructuring of vacated area
Le Havre	Le Havre cuisine centrale	Construction of central kitchen