The Gironde and its new challenges in the face of demographic growth

With a population of 1.636 million, the Gironde is the third most populous department in France since 2014, especially in the Bordeaux metropolis. So growth continues with the challenges of welcoming these newcomers.

It is not without consequence that the region is the most populated administration. It is even a source of new challenges.

With a quarter of the region’s population (1,636 million inhabitants), Gironde is also sixth nationally, with a population increase of 86,000 since 2014. More than six million people live in New Aquitaine, according to figures from INSEE, which published a census study from 2014 to 2020.

In the department that welcomes the metropolis of Bordeaux, the engine of demographic dynamics is the arrival of new residents, more important than the departure.

Despite the construction of new arrondissements, Bordeaux ultimately did not gain many residents, with 13,223 since 2014.

But the metropolis, which consists of 28 municipalities, has registered more than 70,000 new residents since 2014, and is approaching one million with a population of 819,600 as recorded in 1.^er January 2020.

Merignac (population 74,009), Pessac (65,866) and Talence (44,359) make up the top three, with growth of just over 1% each year since 2014, just behind the city-prefecture.

For Alain Anziani, the socialist president of the Bordeaux metropolis and at the same time the mayor of Merignac, dealing with this influx of people poses great challenges.

The biggest challenge will be to provide housing where possible. At least 40,000 more are needed in the metro area. But we should not build anywhere and in any way.

Alain Anziani

France 3 Aquitaine network

“We need to build islands near public transport lines. And we need to preserve the rural spirit. We also need to boost transport development, especially with the metropolitan RER.” he said.

In the agglomeration, Villenave d’Ornon in particular is experiencing the strongest growth with 7,417 more inhabitants, which represents a continuous growth of 3.6% per year!

“We are one of the cities with the most empty land in the conurbation. The arrival of the tram also called for air” first deputy mayor Michel Poignonec explains.

Thus, since 2014, a new district has emerged in the municipality of 38,444 inhabitants: the Bocage district of small buildings and pavilions with 3,500 new inhabitants.

So where are these new Villenavas coming from? : “These are young people from the city, students who want to be close to campus, retirees who want to be close to health centers from other parts of the Gironde, and a few residents of Ile-de-France who want to leave Paris.” details of selected.

To accommodate the new families, the city has built two schools (26 classrooms in total), two childcare homes and other facilities thanks to the PUP (urban partnership project), which includes building designers in the financing.

“We also suffered from the dynamism of the metropolis. I think the growth will stabilize now.” Michel Poignonec concludes.

Gironde, other towns on the right bank, St André-de-Cubzac, Entre-deux-mers, Salleboeuf or Fargues-Ste-Hilaire gained many residents.

This is the case in Salaunes, St-Jean-d’Illac, Saucats or Mios, near the Arcachon basin, where the population is increasing on the left bank.

“In the Gironde we gain 15,000 inhabitants every year” Jean-Luc Gleize, president of the department, points out.

“Therefore, we have a requirement and obligation to deliver results in terms of welcoming new students, foster children, seniors, and the mission of the department.” specifies.

“When you have 20,000 more people, say 1,000 more college students, that means one more college will be built every year.”

Jean-Luc Glaze

France 3 Aquitaine network

France’s largest metropolitan department has many challenges to deal with population growth.

“We have to ask ourselves how to stay attractive with our vehicles. Invest in fiber optics to reduce the differences between Bordeaux and the countryside. Think about protecting the environment too.”

With increasingly saturated regional capital struggling to accommodate everyone, Jean-Luc Gleize has also noticed that in the last five years, individuals and companies are moving away from the metropolis and living in rural areas to create businesses. “Quality of life is better”As in the south of the Gironde.