Ville de Saint-Omer

In the Renan neighborhood of Longuenesse, near Saint-Omer, a large paved plain between apartments, a courtyard and the CAPSO offices overheats in summer and remains largely unused. Supported by Interreg, this pilot will transform the area between 2025 and 2027 into a cooler, greener and more welcoming space. Nature-based solutions and local input will guide the redesign: excess pavement will be removed, trees and pergolas will provide shade, and parking and access routes will be rethought. The project will improve comfort for residents, workers and families, while boosting biodiversity, drainage and resilience after recent floods.

This project brings together a wide range of people from the start. Residents of Le Renan, CAPSO employees, and people from the surrounding neighborhoods will help design the new space. Their ideas will shape the project so that it reflects real needs. Whether it's a safe path for children to play, a shaded lunch spot for workers, or better walking routes for older adults. What makes it even more special is that the project looks at the whole area from its history and past layout to its current social and environmental challenges. It also serves as a model for how European cooperation can lead to better local living conditions, with Interreg support showing what cross-border teamwork can achieve

By 2027, the Renan courtyard and the surrounding plain will be greener, cooler, and more welcoming. Children will have safe and shaded spaces to play. Older residents and people without cars will have better walking routes and shaded spots to rest. Workers at CAPSO will enjoy outdoor breaks in comfort. These improvements will not only make everyday life better but also help nature return to the area. Over time, this project will show how neglected urban spaces - especially in priority neighborhoods - can be turned into places of pride and comfort for everyone.

Would you like to make your city’s public spaces cooler, greener, and more welcoming too? Get in touch!