The Administrative Court of Nice has rejected the appeal of two associations opposed to the transfer of the national interest market to La Gaude. The judges ruled that the public interest and ecological compensation measures justified the project.
The relocation of the national interest market of Nice, better known as MIN, reached a decisive stage on December 3. The administrative court rejected the appeal filed by France Nature Environnement Paca and the Associative Collective for Ecological Achievements. The associations were seeking the annulment of the 2022 prefectural decree authorizing the transfer of the site to La Gaude. They cited the project’s impact on several protected species present in the Baronne area.
This judgment confirms the continuation of a case first mentioned in 2003. The territorial planning directive published that year opened the discussion around a future relocation of the historic market. The project was made official in 2012. It then underwent a long series of appeals that slowed down the administrative steps.
The MIN d’Azur currently occupies an area of approximately 230,000 m² to the west of Nice. It includes several zones dedicated to seafood, meat, flowers, and fruits and vegetables. The latter is to be demolished in 2026 to make room for a parking lot. The transfer to La Gaude aims to reorganize these activities and modernize the entire site.
The administrative judge dismissed the arguments presented by the two associations. The decision is based on three elements: the existence of an imperative public interest, the absence of a credible alternative, and the possibility of maintaining the protected species in their environment despite the works. The National Nature Conservation Council had delivered an unfavorable opinion on the project, particularly due to its impact on the vanilla-scented orchid plant. However, this opinion did not halt the procedure.
The court believes that the compensation measures announced by MIN d’Azur meet legal requirements. The ongoing acquisition of a land plot of more than four hectares, reserved for nature, is one of the commitments aimed at limiting the impact on the local flora.
According to estimates published in 2022 by Nice-Matin, the total cost of the relocation is estimated at around 250 million euros. The arrangement takes the form of a public-private partnership.
Christian Estrosi: “this project is founded“
Following the judgment, the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis praised a decision it considers in line with the strategy pursued over several years to relocate the market. The president of the Metropolis, Christian Estrosi, quickly reacted to this announcement: “this new court decision confirms once again what we have claimed since day one: the project for the new National Interest Market in La Gaude is a project of general interest, coherent, relevant, and essential for the agricultural economy of our territory.”
He emphasizes the prior analysis of the different sites considered. “The administrative court very clearly recalls that the site choice is not random: several locations have been examined, analyzed, and compared, including from an environmental perspective. And it is indeed the Baronne site that presents the best assessment, particularly due to its immediate proximity to our agricultural hubs, allowing local producers to be closer to their distribution site and reducing the distances covered.”
The Metropolis also highlights the strength of the planned measures. “The judge also notes that the environmental measures, including the most demanding compensations, are robust, proportionate, and controlled, with precise quantified objectives.”
Christian Estrosi finally criticizes the actions taken by the associations opposed to the project. According to him, “the systematic appeals filed by a few supposedly environmental associations […] have caused significant delays for the local economy.” He concludes: “Today, justice once again confirms that this project is founded, useful, and in accordance with the law. We will now be able to pursue its implementation with the same determination, in service of our farmers, our businesses, and the food sovereignty of our territory.”
However, the court’s decision does not end the debate. The associations still have appeal options. The project continues to progress in a climate where economic, logistical, and environmental concerns remain closely linked.
