Le Havre (France): the “river garden”, a haven of peace opposite the active port

Creating buffer areas between the existing or future urban front and the port activity allows the city and port to coexist more efficiently while providing living space. Such buffer areas could include urban buffer zones with offices, small businesses, and cultural facilities. Additionally, creating port-city buffer areas with low-impact port facilities such as small-scale logistics, vessel services, and river traffic could also be a solution. Finally, creating green buffer zones that preserve predominantly rural areas or establishing new green spaces can further help achieve harmonious coexistence. Le Havre used a former port area to buffer a new neighbourhood from the port, creating a leisurely green space for the city.

This good practice also includes objective 4.5 (Adopting a land management policy that strikes a balance between urban uses and the active port, especially on the waterfront) of the AIVP’s 2030 Agenda.