Page 150 - 360.revista de Alta Velocidad - Nº 6

Beckerich, Christophe. Benoit, Sylvie. Delaplace, Marie.

So far, 2017 has been marked by the construction of seven new projects: a senior‐living complex
comprising 124 apartments, a development of 69 collective housing units, a development of
41 new houses, and 3 office developments. Several firms and local authorities joined forces to
create a co‐working space of 7,000 m² dedicated to start‐ups, which should be operational in
2017. Lastly, in 2018, a further development of 32 housing units are set to be built, along with
the head office of Rédeim, a Reims‐based property developer, and three housing developments
by social landlord Plurial Novilia.
In parallel, cycle and pedestrian paths have been realized. In all, according to the mayor of
Bezannes, some 300,000 m² of office space – more than four times the amount in Clairmarais –
and 8,000 jobs should be created.
So, while housing, offices and businesses around the central station were all built at the same
time – and in some cases even before the arrival of the HSL – around the peripheral station it
has been necessary to wait, respectively, four and six years for business premises and housing
to appear.
Finally, around this peripheral station, office rents range from EUR 135 to EUR 165 per square
metre, with larger surface areas available (from 400 to 4,700 m²), whereas around the central
station the equivalent rents are between EUR 160 and EUR 180 per square metre for smaller
surfaces, ranging from 120 to 790 m².

4. The location of businesses around the two stations: the results of a comparative
analysis

To understand why an individual firm chooses to locate where it does requires specific surveys,
as statistical data alone only provides a snapshot of the situation at a given moment in time,
and does not provide any information concerning the micro‐economic behaviour of businesses.
Consequently, two surveys were conducted using a questionnaire administered either by phone
or face to face with firms located in each district. The first survey conducted in 2014 aimed to
identify the types of businesses located around the central station (in the Clairmarais district),
their location factors, the impact of the HST on their choice of location, and their use of the
HST. In all, 42 firms agreed to participate, out of the 100 firms operating in the district as of
late 2014 (42%).
The second survey was conducted using the same methodology, but for firms located in the
new area around Champagne‐Ardenne TGV (Bezannes) station in 2015. Of 65 firms, 26 agreed
to participate (39%). Both of these surveys provide valuable information, even if the response
rate was not particularly high.

4.1 Activity sectors and differentiated dynamics of location

In the Clairmarais district, there is a predominance of financial and insurance activities (38.10%),
scientific and technical activities (23.81%), and public administration and educational activities
(16.67%), reflecting a strong specialization in services, including personal services (see Table 3).
In Bezannes, the structure of firms is completely different, with a strong specialization in offices
for industry‐related activities (food products, electricity, mining, etc.; 24%). Indeed, the area
is characterized by a significant presence of local industrial headquarters, as well as scientific
and technical activities (16%), administrative and support services (16%), and accommodation
and catering activities (16%). Unlike Clairmarais, which is close to the city centre, there are
no restaurants for employees. Similarly, while there were already numerous hotels in the city
centre close to Clairmarais, none existed in Bezannes. Finally, Bezannes is also characterized
by the presence of information‐ and communication‐related activities (8%).

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