Monaco plans major reclamation project

Demand for this expansion has been generated by the increasing demand for apartments and facilities in this tax haven on the Cote D’Azure by the South of France. The Monarch, Prince Albert II, believes that the time is now ripe for this expansion to take place.

A plan was proposed a couple of years ago to add 12 acres of land but it was dropped because of the financial crisis. Now a new development is being planned which will extend out from the area to the east of the present harbour of Port Hercule. The area to the west of the harbour was the scene of a major development many years ago when a new harbour and apartment development took place. In the past 20 years Monaco has expanded its land mass by over 5%

Because of concerns over the environmental impact of the development, studies are taking place to find an acceptable environmental solution to the development. It is likely that the new area will be constructed on piles so that there is the minimum disruption to the sea bed and the associated water flows below. A similar type of construction was used for a much smaller development on the east side of the main harbour some years ago.

It is expected that the new development will cost in the region of €10bn and, in contrast to the previous plans, the Monegasque government plans to fund part of the development in order to be able to impose the strict environmental standards that are being demanded. It is planned that this new development will be an eco-showcase for the rest of the world.

The work on the initial studies is scheduled to be completed in a few months time and it is unlikely that the actual construction work will start before 2015. Completion of the basic structure and development is scheduled for 2020. Various top architecture firms are being consulted about the design of the new development, which is likely to include apartment blocks, offices and public buildings.

Because the sea bed drops away steeply from the shoreline, expansion seaward at Monaco is challenging and the water depths in the area of the new development are over 40m deep in places.

Monaco has seen some innovative development in the past when the cruise ship terminal was established. This is based on a floating structure that is anchored to the sea bed and it allows large cruise ships to come alongside in this popular destination. Other proposals for expansion have included large floating islands.

By Dag Pike