The solid foundations of the Côte d'Azur for construction and public works

Nice Airport reclaimed from the sea, the A8 motorway carved into the rock, the Nice expressway, the Allianz Riviera, the Croisette or even Marina Baie des Anges, the Manda bridge, the Cocteau museum in Menton… Each town has its emblematic building(s) that are so much a part of the landscape that we no longer pay attention to them. However, we are too quick to forget the civil engineering and the architects who were at work, but also all those men and women – yes, there are some – in the building and construction trades who brought them to life.

While the Alpes-Maritimes Building and Public Works Federation (FBTP) (FBTP06) is celebrating its 130th anniversary this year, the mood isn't exactly celebratory. A true barometer of the economy, the construction sector has been suffering from a significant slowdown in activity for the past two years, linked to rising construction costs and mortgage rates. Analysis by Patrick Moulard, president of the FBTP of the Côte d'Azur (inset photo).

What does 2025 hold for housing? The municipal elections, which are coming up in ten months, are never a good source of orders. Even though we have some, and several projects will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2025. There are also renovation projects in Sophia Antipolis. But there is indeed a shortage of housing for working people, and this is an issue we are pushing with the UPE06 [Union pour l'Entreprise des Alpes-Maritimes] but which is rarely highlighted by elected officials. Construction isn't necessarily sexy and, above all, it's extremely complex, with a multitude of parameters (urban planning, politics, etc.) that come into play. In 2024, 3,000 homes will have been sold; 1,000 more are needed.

The tax context doesn't help either... Especially with the abolition at the end of last year of the Pinel law [which resulted in a reduction in income tax on rental investments] . What we would like is the status of private landlord which allows owners of rental properties to benefit from a tax reduction. Real estate developers who have sold all their programs thanks to Action Logement Services should get the machine going again, with accessible and affordable rates for first-time buyers. The reduction in Ma Prime Renov' aid doesn't help either.

It has, however, been extended until the start of the school year... Yes, but only for "single-action" projects (heating, insulation, etc.). A break is opening for comprehensive renovations from July 1st to September 15th, to try to eliminate the scammers who take advantage of this aid. Lack of funding will make individuals hesitate to start work. This is a shame because renovation was the only segment of construction activity that was still functioning more or less.

Is converting commercial buildings into housing a solution? It certainly is, as we're currently seeing in Sophia Antipolis. Other municipalities could draw inspiration from this.

Is recruitment another problem for construction industry bosses? It's a structural problem, and we've always struggled to recruit the right employee at the right time and in the right place. We're addressing this with temporary work and micro-enterprises. Now, almost all those setting up in the construction industry are micro-entrepreneurs. At the FBTP, we accept them because we believe that a small business today can become big tomorrow. But it's unfair and legally binding competition because they invoice without VAT, and that weighs heavily on a quote. It's important to know that 80% of our members have fewer than ten employees.

You're going to evangelize among young people... Construction suffers from an image deficit. We participate in the IBT Côte d'Azur trade show [the meeting place for industry, construction, and technology on the Côte d'Azur] and we open our construction sites to young people to show that the sector is evolving and that there are more and more women. Construction is a fabulous profession. I always tell the workers that they will be proud to walk past the building they helped build. Because the result of our work is visible and lasting.

Structural projects for tomorrow? Tram line 4 has just been approved. As for the metro that is supposed to connect Nice to Monaco, nothing is in the works.