In July 2025, Saintes will open a new Leroy Merlin store in Charente-Maritime. The first shovels were handed out on May 28th in the heart of the Center Atlantique park, an activity area of the Saint-Age region. An appeal against the building permit approving this project, issued in 2008, was nevertheless filed in June 2023 with the administrative court of Bordeaux. Seven nearby stores, owned by two rival groups, are working hard to prevent this establishment from opening in Saint-Etienne.
Therefore, the confident Leroy Merlin group chose to begin construction of this store without waiting for the final decision of the judges. “We know the risks. Our competitors are trying to save time, preserve lifelong pensions, to the detriment of consumers,” says Ludovic Muys, director of regional development at Leroy Merlin. According to him, consideration of this appeal may still drag on for months, or even years.
The first sets are expected in the fall
There is no need to wait any longer, believes Ludovic Muys, based on the favorable decisions already made. “Our competitors’ arguments are always the same. The building permit is a commercial permit and was approved by the National Commercial Development Commission, CNAC,” he recalls.
This body reviews projects to create or expand a business and in February 2023 gave the green light to Leroy Merlin. The building permit, as the daily Sud Ouest recalls, was signed in June 2023 by the commune of Saint-Georges. -Koto, where the desired land is located, at the gate of Senta.
The mayor of the village, Frédéric Rouen, was well “informed” about the start of the project and, without blinking an eye, defends this “locomotive for the territory.” “Without going to court, this store would have been open a long time ago. It’s something to look forward to,” the elected official said. The first enrollments will take place in the fall of next year, said Ludovic Muys. Up to 110 jobs could be created with the opening of this “latest generation” store, which will have 5,600 m² of indoor retail space and 2,800 m² of outdoor retail space.
Source: Le Parisien
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