Business Parks in Southern France
THE LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON region in France has concentrated its economic development strategies around its network of business parks, which aim to provide companies with sustainable support. As part of its economic policy, the Languedoc-Roussillon Regional Authority is continuing to build business parks dedicated to establishing new businesses, that will create both jobs and wealth. By providing an appropriate, high-quality and state-of-the-art solution, the Regional Business Parks organisation aims to enable national and international investors alike to choose Languedoc-Roussillon.
The Regional Business Parks are designed not simply as a location for companies, but as a facility to accommodate long-term business projects, for which the Region is similarly committed to support in the long-term.
Each business park is managed by an autonomous public agency, whose funding derives from the companies located in the park, including from their business taxes. These financial resources are reinvested into the business park for the benefit of its companies, funding maintenance of public spaces and the creation of services required by its firms and employees.
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Languedoc-Roussillon Business Parks Currently Available:
Nicolas Appert, in the Aude area - Logistics and agribusiness.
Marcel Boiteux, in the Gard area - High-tech and life science.
Via Domitia, in the Hérault area - Artisanal and industrial.
Humphry Davy, in the Gard area - Traditional industrial.
Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, in the Hérault area - Traditional heritage professions.
Languedoc-Roussillon Business Parks Under Development:
Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier, in the Gard area - Trimodal transport: river, rail and road.
François Arago, in the Pyrénées-Orientales area - General and logistics.
Paul Sabatier, in the Aude area - Tourism and services.
Michel Chevalier, in the Hérault area - Multi-focus, less than an hour from the major metropolitan areas of Montpellier and Béziers.
Joseph Montgolfier, in the Hérault area - Maritime and watercraft.
Charles Cross, in the Aude area - Eco-construction and renewable energies.
Jean-Antoine Chaptal, in the Lozèère area - Timber, logistics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, in the Aude area - 300 hectares at the heart of the Languedoc rectangle formed by Pézenas, Agde, Lézignan-Corbières and Port-la-Nouvelle; economically strategic.
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Currently Available
Nicolas Appert, at Castelnaudary, in the Aude area
Logistics & Agribusiness
Key Figures
Total area 130 hectares; Total area for sale 100 hectares; Available surface 50 ha; Size of plots 40,000 - 200,000 m2 (logistics), 5,000 - 10,000 m2 (agribusiness and mixed), and 1,000 - 2,500 m2 (services).
Target Business
Logistics, agribusiness, mixed, and general services in the dedicated park entry area.
Infrastructure
Broadband;11000KW electricity, gas supply, mains water, BRL raw water.
Company Services
Hotel, restaurant, HGV service centre (diesel station, truck wash, maintenance and secure 90-space vehicle park). 20 hectares of publicly managed green areas in the business park, all facilities and shops available in Castelnaudary town centre.
Regional Assets
This is an area experiencing demographic growth, with housing, youth and training programmes already underway. Tried and tested industrial know-how, with over 1,500 jobs in the agribusiness industry (Research and Development, wholesale trade, processing, packaging) and dedicated technological premises (for training and business incubator).
Location
At junction 21 on the A61 from Toulouse in the north (60km) and Narbonne in the south (100km), 1 hour 30 minutes from Montpellier and 3 hours from Barcelona, in the municipality of Castelnaudary (population 12,000 - economic hub with 80,000 inhabitants and 23,000 jobs).
Transport Network
A61 motorway 500m away; Castelnaudary railway station 5km away with frequent, rapid service to Toulouse (30 minutes) and Montpellier (2 hours), TGV Atlantique and TGV Méditerranée (5 hours to Paris); Toulouse Blagnac International Airpor 60km away; Carcassonne Salvaza Airport 40km (Belgium, UK); Castres-Mazamet Airport 45km away (Paris, Lyon); Local aerodrome with tarmac runway for business planes nearby; Port of Sète180km away; Port-la-Nouvelle 120km away.
Access
Via the D6 road from the A61 exit, to the RD 6113 (formerly RN 113) and the road to Limoux Logistics plots with direct rail link.
Companies Present
The IDEC Group (logistics real estate promoter) is under very advanced discussions to implement a logistics platform (48.000 sq m) for the South of France, for one of the leading French distributors (name still confidential); as well as implementing a food production unit for that same group (12.000 sq m). The Accor Hotels Group will also develop two hotel units (total of 240 beds). Other developments include a restaurant and a HGV service centre (diesel station, truck wash, maintenance and secure 90-space Truck Vehicle Park).
Marcel Boiteux, near Avignon & Nîmes in the Gard area
High technology & life sciences
Key Figures
Total surface area 30 ha; total area for sale 15 ha (100,000 m2 net floor space); Available surface 9,5 ha; Size of plots 2,000 m2 - 10,000 m2.
Target Business
Tertiary, technological and industrial applications.
Infrastructure
Broadband; low, medium and high voltage electricity; wastewater treatment plant.
Company Services
Technology transfer hall; occupational medicine office approved for the nuclear industry, collective service centre with company restaurant and (projected) accommodation offer.
Regional Assets
The Gard Rhodanien area has been experiencing economic growth for the past 20 years with 2,078 artisanal businesses and 3,600 commercial, tertiary and industrial businesses, including 28 companies with over 100 employees. It is the largest industrial area in the Languedoc- Roussillon region with a younger and more qualified population than the regional average.
Location
In the Gard Rhodanien (a population centre with 114,000 inhabitants), 8km from Bagnols- sur-Cèze, 15km from Orange and 30km from Avignon, in the municipalities of Codolet (population: 694) and Chusclan (population: 987).
Transport Networks
A9 motorway (Roquemaure exit) 16km away; A7 (Orange-Marseille) - A9 (Orange-Montpellier) motorway junction, Orange exit 14km away; Orange railway station 20km away; Avignon TGV railway station 33km away; Avignon Airport 39km away; Nîmes-Arles-Camargue Airport 69km away; Montpellier-Méditerranée Airport 108km away; Port de l’Ardoise 8km away; Port of Sète 130km away.
Access
Main access via the RD765 road, then the RN 580 (Bagnols-sur-Cèze - Avignon), connecting with the A9.
Companies Present
CEA (nuclear research agency), CIS Bio International (Biomedical technologies, nuclear medicine), Visiatome (scientific outreach centre), Marcoule Institute for Separative Chemistry (research unit).
Via Domita, close to Montpellier, in the Hérault Area
Artisanal and industrial businesses
Key Figures
Total area140 ha; Available surface 14 ha; Total area surface 8 ha (38,000 m2 net floor space); Size of plots (1st phase) 1,000 - 2,500 m2.
Target Business
1st phase: craft industry, industrial and tertiary businesses.
2nd development phase: logistics business, industrial.
Infrastructure
Dedicated drainage; mains water; low and high voltage electricity; gas supply; broadband.
Company Services
Rental offer in the Minerve Craft and Service Business Village, with 2,100m2 net floor space.
Regional Assets
The metropolitan area of Montpellier is experiencing one of the fastest demographic growth rates in France; 40% of the population is under 30; 60,000 students; 250 operational research organisations;25,500 companies.
Location
East of Montpellier (population 250,000 and metropolitan area 550,000), in the municipalities of Castries (population 5,500) and Vendargues (population 5,510).
Transport Network
A9 motorway 3.5km away; Montpellier St. Roch railway station 18km away; Montpellier Airport 10km away; Port of Sète 50km away.
Access
By rail and the LIEN (Northern Montpellier bypass) which will ultimately link the A9 (Perpignan - Orange) to the A750 - A75 motorways (Clermont-Ferrand - Béziers).
Companies coming to the Park
Atole (sheet metalworking), Epsilog (medical software editor), and Biostatem (specialised consultants in epidemiology and related clinical research). See case study on the Languedoc-Roussillon business parks listing.
Humphry Davy, near Alès, in the Gard area
This park is a traditional industrial one, linking the Mediterranean and the Massif Central mountains.
Key Figures
Total area 30 ha; total area for sale 13.2 ha (63,000 m2 net floor space); size of plots 1,500 m2 - 10,000 m2
Target Business
Energy, biomass, timber/paper industry, crafts industry.
Infrastructure
Low and medium voltage electricity; broadband; production network using cogeneration plant; mains drinking water, very close to a river (the Gardon).
Company Services
Local organisations providing dynamic impetus include the Ecole des Mines in Alès and the Myriapolis development agency.
Regional Assets
Following one and a half century of a single major industry - coal mining - the area is now being redeveloped with a focus on eco-industry, green tourism and new technologies, in particular biotechnologies and motor sports (the 'mechanics hub' offers a car and motorbike circuit and makes its facilities available to scores of companies in the sector).
The demographic growth forecast for the next fifteen years is taken into account in local authorities’ housing programmes, as well as in social and educational policies.
Location
in the municipalities of La Grand Combe (population: 5,500) and Laval-Pradel (population: 1,830), 60km from NiÌ‚mes and Bagnols-sur-Cèze, a few kilometres from Lozère, 200km from Clermont- Ferrand, 15km north of Alès (population: 41,000).
Transport networks
A9 motorway (NiÌ‚mes Ouest) 60km away; A75 motorway (Marvejols) 100km away; NiÌ‚mes TGV railway station 60km away; Montpellier Airport 80km away; Marseille Airport 160km away; Port of Sète 120km away; Port of Marseille 200km away.
Access
Main access from the RD765 road, then RN 580 via the RN 106 (NiÌ‚mes - Alès - Mende - Clermont-Ferrand).
Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, at Bédarieux, in the Hérault area
This park is geared to traditional heritage professions.
Key Figures
Total area 8 ha; total area for sale 4 ha (20,000 m2 net floor space); size of plots 1,500 m2 - 4,000 m2.
Target Business
Artisanal businesses relating to heritage, arts and crafts and the renovation of built heritage.
Infrastucture
Broadband; low and medium voltage electricity; mains drinking water.
Company Services
Business assistance resource for companies: Phoros business incubator.
Projected: showcase of traditional regional expertise in the renovation of built heritage. Other services: hotels, restaurants, artisans, independent professionals, 360 shops within the municipality of Bédarieux.
Location
In the municipality of Bédarieux (pop. 6,500), 55km west of Montpellier and 30km north of Béziers, the Business Park is located in an economic and commercial catchment area with 25,000 inhabitants.
Transport Networks
A75 motorway 22km away; A9 motorway 30km away; Bédarieux railway station 5km away; Béziers Cap d’Agde airport 48km away; Montpellier airport 88km away; Port of Sète 90km away, via the A9 motorway.
Access
Local road network on the RD35 and future Bédarieux bypass (RD908).
Under Development
Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier, at Laudun l’Ardoise, in the Gard area
A business park equipped for trimodal transport: river (L’Ardoise port), rail (rail link) and road (A7 motorway).
Key Figures
Total area 120 ha; area for sale 80 ha; size of plots: 2,000 m2 - 10,000 m2.
Target Business
Logistics and industrial applications, in particular relating to the research centre at Park Marcel Boîteux (Codolet /Chusclan - Marcoule, 8km away).
Infrastructure
Broadband; low and medium voltage electricity; mains drinking water supply; wastewater treatment plant; rail link.
Companies Present
Ferro-Pem (manufacture of foundry and ferrosilicon products). Workforce: 111
FM Logistic (transport, warehousing and packing). Workforce: 150
Regional Assets
A socio-economic area with a rich industrial past (Arcelor, Ugine), offering a wide range of skill sets: logistics, industrial maintenance, sheet metal, public works, bricklaying, civil engineering, agribusiness, office design. It is close to the Marcoule research cluster (5,000 direct jobs) and located on the right bank of the Rhône, with its historically strong economic activity and a growing port: the L’Ardoise river port - the 4th largest port in the Languedoc-Roussillon and the leading multimodal river/maritime, rail and road port.
Location
11km south of Bagnols-sur-Cèze, 29km west of Orange, 28km north of Avignon, the Lavoisier park is located in the municipality of Laudun-L’Ardoise (population: 5,390) in the Rhône Cèze Languedoc metropolitan area (population: 42,000).
Transport Networks
A9 motorway junction Roquemaure exit 9km away; A7 (Orange-Marseille) - A9 (Orange- Montpellier) motorway junction, Orange exit 28km away; Avignon TGV railway station 30km away; Nîmes-Arles-Camargue Airport 65km away; Montpellier-Méditerranée International Airport 108km away; Marseille-Marignane Airport 134km away; Port of L’Ardoise 4km away; Port of Sète 120km away.
Access
Adjacent to the RN 580 main road, close to the A7 and A9 motorways, river transport via the port of L’Ardoise (Lyon-Marseille-Mediterranean waterway) and a dedicated freight line on the right bank of the Rhône River.
François Arago, at Rivesaltes, in the Pyrénées-Orientales area
General and loogistics with its own rail link and at the gateway to Spain.
Key Figures
Total area 70 ha; total area for sale 50 ha; size of plots to be defined according to the requirements of company projects.
Target Business
General and logistics.
Infrastructure
Broadband; rail link to Paris (Port Bou line); low and medium voltage electricity; wastewater treatment plant.
Company Services
The park adjoins the Méditerranée Business Area, with 80 hectares accommodating 60 artisanal and industrial businesses (in particular in eco-energy and agribusiness). This area also has a hotel, a business incubator with European accreditation and a 2000m2 business service centre with offices and additional workshops.
Regional Assets
Cross-border rail and motorway routes to Andorra and Spain plus sea routes to North Africa from Port-Vendres and Port-la-Nouvelle give this park its highly strategic location. It is also close to Saint-Charles international market, the leading fruit and vegetable hub in Europe, with 560 companies in premises covering 900 hectares.
Location
10 minutes from Perpignan city centre (population 117,500; metropolitan area population 280,000), in the municipality of Rivesaltes (population 8,610), 40km from the Spanish border, 30 minutes from Port-Vendres and Port-la-Nouvelle, and 2 hours from Barcelona.
Transport Networks
A9 motorway (Orange – Spain, junction 41 Perpignan Nord) 2km away; Rivesaltes railway station 2km away; Perpignan railway station (45 minutes to Barcelona by TGV high speed train) 10km away; future TGV railway station 2km away; Perpignan-Rivesaltes International Airport 5km away; Port-la-Nouvelle and Port-Vendres 30km away.
Access
Direct access from the A9 motorway junctions at Perpignan centre and Rivesaltes, as well as the park's own logistics-dedicated rail link.
Paul Sabatier, near Carcassonne, in the Aude area
Ideal for tourism and service businesses, in a tourist hotspot with nearby international airport, and not far from Toulouse.
Key Figures
Total surface 52 ha; available surface for sale 27.3 ha; size of plots 1000 - 20,000 m2.
Target business
Tourism, hospitality, services, crafts, local food and drink products, tertiary sector.
Infrastructure
Broadband; drinking water; low and medium voltage electricity supply.
Company Services
Business assistance resource with the CréAUDE business incubator in Carcassonne.
Regional Assets
This is area is a tourism mecca, near to the walled and castellated city of Carcassonne and the Canal du Midi, and surrounded by the Cathar sites - between them these attractions welcome 4 million visitors a year. Education in the area includes a wide range of training programmes for technologial and tertiary careers.
Location
90km from Toulouse; 60km from Narbonne; 150km from Montpellier, 7km from Carcassonne in the municipality of Trèbes (Population 48,000 in Carcassonne town, 80, 000 in the area).
Transport Networks
A61 motorway 5km away; Carcassonne railway station 8km away; Carcassonne airport 17km away (flights to Belgium, Germany, Ireland and UK); Port la Nouvelle 74km away; Port of Sète 130km away.
Access
A61 motorway from the south (exit 24, Carcassonne-la-Cité), and N613 main road from the north.
Michel Chevalier, in the Hérault area
A multi-focus park, less than an hour from the major metropolitan areas of Montpellier and Béziers.
Key Figures
Total surface 115 ha; available suface (1st phase) 20 ha; area for sale 15 ha; size of plots (30 lots) 4,000 - 20,000 m2 (80,000 m2).
Target Business
Craft and light industries, tertiary, NICT, logistics and industrial.
Infrastructure
Broadband; drinking water as well as raw water; low and medium voltage electricity supply; wastewater treatment plant.
Company Services
A shared business service centre is planned for the Michel Chevalier Park. The park is located at the heart of a broad-based economic offering geared to craft activity, with a business incubator and a commercial and services centre plus a planned 100-room hotel.
Regional Assets
This well-conserved area was historically based around the textile industry, and the area is now enjoying fresh economic growth due to the area's residential desirability. It is part of the A75 road's 'green pearl' network of natural beauty spots, such as Lake Salagou and the Cirque deNavacelles.
Location
48km from Montpellier; 55km from Béziers; 70km from Sète and Millau; 2 hours 30 minutes from Clermont-Ferrand and Marseille; 3 hours from Barcelona; in the municipality of Le Bosc, 8km from Lodève (population 7,400 - area totalling 14,000 inhabitants).
Transport Networks
A75 motorway (Paris-Béziers-Montpellier, junction 54) 800m away; Lodève railway station 4km away; Montpellier TGV railway station 50km away; Montpellier-Méditerranée International Airport 63km away; Port of Sète 70km away.
Access
Junction to the A75 motorway 800m away.
Companies Present
Ondupack (workforce 20, corrugated cardboard packaging), TAM (workforce 70, metal industry), Muzzarelli (workforce 35, laser stonecutting).
Joseph Montgolfier, in Frontignan, in the Hérault area
A unique site located on the banks of lake Thau, alongside the RhoÌ‚ne-Sète Canal, enabling innovative businesses to link up with companies working in the maritime and watercraft industries.
Key Figures
Total surface 32 ha; total area for sale 23 ha (13 ha net floor space); available surface 16 ha; size of plots is variable according to project requirements.
Target Business
Artisans, maritime industry, sailing, tourism and tertiary.
Infrastructure
Separate, vacuum drainage, low and medium voltage electricity, broadband.
Company Services
The park is being developed with particular attention to environmental issues, in particular that the park should be in keeping with its natural environment. As for each of the regional business parks, services for companies, employees and other users will be designed around the needs of resident companies.
'Simyra', an organisation that hosts and assists business start-ups for marine product processing companies, is nearby.
Regional Assets
At the centre of trade between Spain and Northern Europe, and on the Mediterranean seaboard, this is an attractive area thanks to its role as a European multimodal communication hub. It is close to a university and research centre for international cooperation, with a network of SMEs aimed at export markets.
Location
30km west of Montpellier; very close to the Mediterranean via the RhoÌ‚ne-Sète Canal and the Thau Lagoon; 9km from Sète (population 43,300; metropolitan area population 66,200); in the municipality of Frontignan (population 22,400).
Transport Networks
A9 motorway 15km away; Frontignan railway station 5km away; Montpellier-Méditerranée International Airport 40km away; Béziers Vias Airport 50km away; Port of Sète 9km away.
Access
Main access from the RD2 Balaruc road.
Charles Cross, in Pieusse and Cépie, in the Aude area
Multisite park with an emphasis on eco-construction and renewable energies, with a business incubator.
Key Figures
Total area 18ha (6ha in the Pieusse area and 12 ha in the Cépie area); total area for sale 3 ha (2.3 ha net floor space) 9 ha (6 ha net floor space); size of plots in the Pieusse area 1,000 - 8,000m2; size of plots in the Cépie area 1,000 - 6,000m2.
Target Business
- Pieusse area: eco-construction and renewable energies
- Cépie area: crafts and mixed industries
Infrastructure
Broadband; low and medium voltage electricity.
Company Services
- Property offer in a business incubator dedicated to eco-construction (projected).
- Assistance and development agency - Limoux Haute Vallée Business Incubator.
Regional Assets
The area features a dense fabric of small companies and a business dynamic directed towards industrial sectors as well as the residential economy (retail outlets, property, healthcare, social action, hotels and restaurants).
There are many structured projects underway in the area including a General Interest Programme for home improvements, a Local Tourist Structure Scheme and a project for an Individual Services Scheme (including both for-profit and non-profit initiatives).
Location
100km east of Toulouse, 25km south-west of Carcassonne, 85km from Narbonne, 170km from Montpellier, 100km east of Perpignan, a few kilometres from Limoux (population:10,000 - metropolitan area: 15,000) on twoseparate sites located in Pieusse (population: 950) and Cépie (population: 645).
Transport Networks
A61 motorway (Toulouse - Montpellier) 25km away - exit 23 Carcassonne; Carcassonne railway station 8km away; Carcassonne Salvaza Airport 17km away (European flights to Belgium, Germany, Ireland, England and Scotland);
Toulouse Blagnac International Airport 110km away; Perpignan International Airport 130km away;
Montpellier International Airport 175km away; Port la Nouvelle 74km away; Port of Sète 130km away.
Access
Via the D118 road, which is being made into a dual carriageway - most of the dual carriageway is now open.
Jean-Antoine Chaptal, at Mendes-Badaroux, in the Lozère area
180 hectares of environmentally sound modern buildings, targeting timber, logistics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
Key Figures
Total area 180 ha; area for sale 60 ha (36 ha net floor space); size of plots variable according to the requirements of company projects.
Target Business
Timber, logistics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
Infrastructure
Broadband; low and medium voltage electricity; wastewater treatment plant.
Company Services
- Close to an innovative business incubator, the Lozère Digital Economy cluster (POLeN) in Mende, providing facilities to serve projects directed towards Information and Communication Technologies.
- Close to Cybermassif, a multimedia resource centre.
Regional Assets
This sympathetically built park is in a rural, wooded area, which is the ideal place for green tourism and an excellent quality of life. It is at the junction of major geological regions, with the Cévennes hills to the south-east and the Aubrac volcanic plateaux to the north-west - the gateway to the Tarn Gorges.
Location
A strategic location on the RN 88 main road, between Lyon and Toulouse (soon to be completely dual carriageway); 180km south of Clermont-Ferrand; 210km from Lyon; 100km north of Millau; 165km from Montpellier; 5km from Mende (population 12,000; metropolitan area population 17,000), in the municipality of Badaroux (population 850).
Transport Networks
A75 motorway (Clermont-Ferrand - Paris/ Millau – Rodez – Montpellier - Toulouse) 20km away; Mende railway station 5km away; Mende – Paris air shuttle (3 hours) and local aerodrome 5km away.
Access
Via the RN 106 main road (Clermont-Ferrand / Nîmes) and the RN 88 (Lyon).
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, at Salles d’Aude, in the Aude area
300 hectares at the heart of the Languedoc rectangle formed by Pézenas, Agde, Lézignan-Corbières and Port-la-Nouvelle, identified as being economically strategic by the Regional Sustainable Development plan.
Infrastructure
Broadband; wastewater treatment plant; mains drinking water; low, medium and high voltage electrical supply.
Company Services
- EOLE multi-business incubator in Narbonne.
- Biodyssée business incubator and hosting, for high technology businesses (currently being set up).
Regional Assets
Multiple assets with a renovated vineyard geared to quality, tourism as the major economic focus, technological capacity in the field of environmental sciences and agronomy, extensive use of wind turbines and other sources of renewable energies. Finally, a clear logistics vocation, at the crossroads of major communication routes.
Location
150km from Toulouse, 100km from Montpellier, 60km from Perpignan, 19km west of Béziers and 15km east of Narbonne (population 51,300 – metropolitan area: 80,000), in the municipality of Salles d’Aude (population 2,370).
Transport Networks
A9 motorway (exit 37 - Narbonne Est) 14km away; New TGV railway station in Narbonne 13km away; planned TGV railway station in Salles d’Aude Béziers-Agde-Vias Airport 30km away; Perpignan-Rivesaltes Airport 60km away; Montpellier-Méditerranée International airport 90km away; Port la Nouvelle 40km away; Port of Sète 70km away.
Access
Direct access from A9 junction (Perpignan centre, Rivesaltes).
