Currently undergoing a major transformation, the vast construction site of the Hôtel des Polices has opened its doors to the press and local elected officials. This project, unique in France and across Europe, led jointly by the City of Nice and the French State, is set to revolutionise the coordination of security forces across the Nice metropolitan area.
The total cost of the project amounts to €239 million, including €172 million funded by the State through the LOPMI (Law on the Orientation and Programming of the Ministry of the Interior) and €50 million contributed by the City of Nice. Covering 50,000 square metres, this complex will, for the first time in France, bring together the municipal police and the national police within a single site.
During the visit, several areas were presented to illustrate the scale of the project: 47 custody cells, a 300 m² armoury, and a 3,900 m² Hypervision and Urban Command Centre (CHUC), designed to serve as the digital nerve centre of metropolitan security, featuring five video monitoring control rooms. The site will also house the municipal police operational centre, the Metropolitan Mobility Operations Centre, two modular crisis rooms, a new technologies laboratory, and a cybersecurity unit.
Parking: a clear answer
In response to recent criticism voiced by MP Éric Ciotti, Christian Estrosi sought to clarify a sensitive issue:
“Inside the building, 567 parking spaces are planned to accommodate service vehicles for both the municipal police and the national police.”
He also stressed the distinction between professional and personal use:
“There is work, and there is personal life.”
As such, the personal vehicles of officers will have dedicated access across three levels of the Marshall car park, allowing them to park before starting their shifts.
“Contrary to what has been incorrectly claimed, everything has been предусмотрено in the contract signed between the State and the City,” the mayor insisted.
Scheduled for completion in 2026
Originally scheduled for completion at the end of 2025, the overall delivery is now expected in October 2026, due to budgetary slowdowns linked to governmental instability, pending state-level arbitration decisions, and unforeseen technical constraints — notably the treatment of soil liquefaction.
Despite these delays, Christian Estrosi expressed confidence and said he hopes residents will be able to visit the site before the end of the year:
“We will organise open days so that the people of Nice can discover the premises.”
