Sustainable and Inclusive Cities? Strategic Urban Regeneration of Decommissioned Industrial Sites in France

This study investigates the revitalization of abandoned industrial areas along riverbanks and coastal regions in France, assessing their capacity to drive sustainable urban change through cohesive planning and design approaches. Based on three case studies, La Seyne-sur-Mer (former shipyards), Les Rives du Gave in Pau (former logistics and industrial hub), and the PCUK site in Wattrelos/Leers (former chemical production facility), the research explores how sites marked by industrial decline are being reimagined to address contemporary challenges such as ecological recovery, social and spatial integration, and cultural heritage enhancement. The purpose is to examine how the strategic regeneration of decommissioned sites can contribute to sustainable and inclusive urban development. Using a cross-case analysis grounded in landscape and urban environmental research, the study compares planning strategies, tools, and outcomes. The findings reveal diverse but complementary approaches: 1) adaptive reuse of maritime infrastructure in La Seyne-sur-Mer, 2) ecological and recreational redevelopment in Pau, and 3) innovative phytoremediation and rewilding at the PCUK site. Despite their local specificities, these projects collectively illustrate how collaborative governance, nature-based solutions, and cultural initiatives can reintegrate neglected industrial zones into the urban fabric. The paper contributes to the wider discourse on European post-industrial regeneration by offering original insights into flexible, context-sensitive strategies that reconcile historical legacies with future sustainability goals.