A Priority Urbanization Zone (ZUP), originally termed "Zone à urbaniser par priorité", was an administrative urban planning procedure used in France between 1959 and 1967 to address the growing demand for housing. ZUPs were designed to create new districts from initial inception, including residential buildings, commercial and community facilities.

Taking the form of large housing estates, ZUPs helped alleviate housing shortages but are generally considered to have fallen short of creating vibrant, dynamic neighborhoods. By metonymy, the term "ZUP" also refers to the districts and urban complexes resulting from this planning process.

ZUPs are frequently targeted by France's "urban policy" initiatives and the national urban renewal program led by the National Agency for Urban Renewal (ANRU).

Background

Urban development between the world wars primarily occurred through suburban housing estates, subdivided and sold by speculators. These developments often suffered from limited scale, poor integration with urban plans established under the 1919 and 1924 laws, and inadequate infrastructure, resulting in makeshift constructions by low-income populations.

Post-World War II, France faced a severe housing crisis. Of the 12.6 million housing units in 1946, one-third were overcrowded, and half lacked running water. In Paris, 42% of residents lived in substandard or overcrowded conditions. The crisis was exacerbated by the destruction of approximately homes during the war, coupled with population growth from the rural flight, the baby boom, and the arrival of immigrant populations and repatriates from Algeria.

The push for new housing led to a steady increase in France's housing stock, growing from 18.2 million units in 1968 to 21.078 million in 1975, 23.7 million in 1982, 26.2 million in 1990, and 28.7 million in 1999. ZUPs significantly contributed to this growth, providing millions of people access to modern amenities.

Definition and implementation The ZUP framework was established by Decree No. 58-1464 on . It aimed to facilitate the rapid development of new urban areas by planning and financing housing and community infrastructure in "municipalities or agglomerations where the scale of housing construction programs necessitates the creation, reinforcement, or expansion of collective facilities." The goal was to address housing shortages driven by population growth, improve urban planning, and eliminate substandard housing.

ZUPs enabled the swift equipping of land designated for new urban projects. The responsible local authority, often a commune or the state, partnered with a public entity or a mixed economy company to expropriate land, develop infrastructure, and sell it to developers. Funding was partially provided by the state, with the local prefect approving key elements such as master plans and programs.

To maximize construction efforts, ZUPs required a minimum of housing units, though most exceeded this threshold. Between 1957 and 1969, 197 ZUPs were developed, resulting in 2.2 million housing units. In Dunkirk, heavily impacted by wartime destruction, local officials secured the creation of one of the first ZUPs in 1959 at "Nouvelles Synthes," alongside the development of a large industrial-port zone to accommodate major industries like Usinor Dunkerque.

However, the large housing estate model quickly revealed its limitations. Despite intentions to avoid creating dormitory towns, ZUPs often resulted in standardized architecture (notably the "crane path" design) and a predominance of social housing. Recognizing these shortcomings, ZUPs were replaced by (ZACs) under the Land Planning Law of 1967. After 1969, no new ZUPs could be created, and existing ones were either phased out or transitioned to other planning mechanisms.

In the 1970s, France shifted to a new towns policy, aiming to create fully functional cities rather than mere planned neighborhoods. A notable exception is the ZUP of Les Ulis in Essonne, established in 1960, which became an independent municipality in 1977.

ZUPs in France Below is a non-exhaustive list of ZUPs, organized by region.

In 1959, two ZUPs were created in French Algeria, in the city of Algiers:

Les Annassers Rouiba-Reghaia

These projects were abandoned in 1962 following Algerian independence.

Alsace

Europe, Colmar (Haut-Rhin): Established in 1960, with housing units built from 1959. Architect-urbanist: Charles-Gustave Stoskopf. Les Coteaux, Mulhouse (Haut-Rhin), commonly called the "ZUP de Mulhouse": Established in 1960, with housing units. Architect-urbanist: Marcel Lods. Volgelsheim, near Neuf-Brisach (Haut-Rhin): Established in 1966. Hautepierre, Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin): Established in 1964, with housing units built from 1964 to 1981. Architect-urbanists: Pierre Vivien.

Aquitaine

Sainte-Croix/Saint-Esprit, Bayonne: housing units built from 1963 to 1974. Architect-urbanist: Marcel Breuer. Biscarrosse (Landes): Established in 1964. Hauts de Garonne, Cenon (Palmer district), Floirac, and Lormont (Genicart district), on the right bank of the Garonne, in the Bordeaux agglomeration: housing units built from 1960 to 1975. Architect-urbanists: Jean Fayeton and Francisque Perrier. Tourasse-Buros, Pau: Architect-urbanist: André Remondet. Thouars, Talence and Villenave-d'Ornon, Bordeaux agglomeration: Established in 1961.

Auvergne

Les-Cézeaux-Les-Landais, Clermont-Ferrand (Puy-de-Dôme): Established in 1960. Croix de Neyrat and Flamina, Clermont-Ferrand (Puy-de-Dôme): Established in 1965. La Plaine, Clermont-Ferrand (Puy-de-Dôme): Established in 1960. Champins, Moulins (Allier): Established in 1967. Guitard, Le Puy-en-Velay (Haute-Loire): Established in 1967.

Burgundy

Saint-Pantaléon, Autun (Saône-et-Loire): Established in 1964, with housing units. Sainte-Geneviève, Auxerre (Yonne): Established in 1960, with housing units. Mignottes, Migennes, near Auxerre (Yonne): Established in 1966. Derrière-Cluny, Beaune (Côte-d'Or): Established in 1966. Prés-Saint-Jean, Chalon-sur-Saône (Saône-et-Loire): Established in 1966, completed in 1979, with housing units. Architect-urbanist: Daniel Petit. Le Mail, Chenôve, near Dijon (Côte-d'Or): Established in 1960, with housing units built from 1960 to 1969. Architect-urbanist: Henri-Jean Calsat. Fontaine d'Ouche, Dijon (Côte-d'Or): Established in 1962, with housing units. Nord, Mâcon-Flacé (Saône-et-Loire): Established in 1962. L'Etang-du-Plessis, Montceau-les-Mines (Saône-et-Loire): Established in 1966. Grahuches, now Champs-Plaisants, Sens (Yonne): Established in 1960.

Brittany

Bellevue (B2 or Brest 2), now Bellevue, Brest: housing units built from 1958 to 1977, housing residents. Architect-urbanist: Henry Auffret. See Canton de Brest-Bellevue. Zone Nord, now Ker-huel, Lannion (Côtes-d'Armor): Established 1962–1971, with housing units. Architect-urbanist: Michel Marty. Kervénanec, Lorient and Ploemeur: Established in 1962, built from 1966 to 1976. Architect-urbanist: André Schmitz. Maurepas, Rennes: housing units, built from 1955 to 1966. Architect-urbanists: Jean-Michel Legrand and Jacques Rabinel. Villejean-Malifeu, Rennes: Established in 1959, with housing units built from 1963 to 1975. Architect-urbanist: Louis Arretche. Blosne, also ZUP Sud, Rennes, in the Le Blosne and Bréquigny districts: Established between 1959 and 1975, with housing units. Architect-urbanist: Michel Marty. Kermoysan, Quimper: Established in 1962, built from 1960 to 1977. Architect-urbanist: Henry Auffret. Plateau-Central, Saint-Brieuc: Established in 1960. La-Croix-Saint-Lambert, Saint-Brieuc: Established in 1967. Ménimur, Vannes: Established in 1966. Architect-urbanist: Henry Auffret.

Centre-Val de Loire

Nord, also "quartiers nord," Blois: Established on , with housing units and residents. Gibjoncs, northern districts, Bourges: Established in 1960, with housing units built from 1961 to 1976. Architect-urbanist: Guy Pison. Madeleine, Chartres (Eure-et-Loir): Established in 1964. Architect-urbanist: Henri-Pierre Maillard. Champ-Auger (ZUP No. 1) or Saint-Jean, Châteauroux (Indre): Established in 1961, with housing units built from 1961 to 1972. Architect-urbanist: Jean-Pierre Allain. Chemin du Grand Poirier (ZUP No. 2), Châteauroux (Indre): housing units built from 1966 to 1975. Architect-urbanist: Jean Lasry. Chaussée, Montargis: Established in 1962. Fleury-les-Aubrais, Orléans agglomeration (Loiret): Established in 1960. Architect-urbanist: Jean Bossu. Argonne, Orléans: Established in 1960. La Rabière, Joué-lès-Tours (Indre-et-Loire): Established in 1960, with housing units. Architect-urbanist: Jacques Poirrier. Vallée du Cher (ZUP No. 1), Tours and Saint-Pierre-des-Corps: Established in 1967, with housing units, now the Fontaines and Rochepinard districts. Architect-urbanists: Joël Hardion and Pierre Dalloz. Clos-du-Roy, Vierzon (Cher): Established in 1967.

Champagne-Ardenne

Corvées, Chalons-sur-Marne/Saint-Memmie: Established in 1962. Ronde-Couture, Charleville-Mézières (Ardennes), formerly Mohon: Established in 1963, with residents. Architect-urbanist: Michel Folliasson. La Citadelle, Charleville-Mézières (Ardennes): Established in 1960. La Rochotte, Chaumont (Haute-Marne): Established in 1965. Mont-Bernon, Épernay (Marne): Established in 1963. Architect-urbanists: Michel Andrault and Pierre Parat. Laon-Neufchâtel, now Orgeval district, Reims (Marne): Established in 1960, with housing units from 1960. Bocquaine, now Châtillons district, Reims (Marne): Established in 1963, with housing units built from 1966 to 1970. Architect-urbanists: Tremblot and Clauzier. Orzy, Revin (Ardennes): Established in 1959, with residents. Saint-Dizier (Haute-Marne), now Le Vert-Bois-Le Grand Lachat: Established in 1967. La Chapelle-Saint-Luc-Les Noës-près-Troyes, Troyes agglomeration (Aube): Established in 1963. Architect-urbanist: Michel Colle. Prairie, Sedan (Ardennes): Established in 1960, now Lac district, with residents. Torcy-cités, Sedan (Ardennes): residents. Vitry-Nord, Vitry-le-François (Marne): Established in 1962, built from 1966.

Franche-Comté

Résidences Bellevue, Belfort: Established in 1959, with housing units built from 1959 to 1970. Architect-urbanist: Jean Fayeton. Avenue-d'Altkirch, Belfort: Established in 1963. Planoise, Besançon (Doubs): Established in 1962, with housing units built from 1960 to 1977, housing over residents. Architect-urbanist: Maurice Novarina. Saint-Ylie, now Mesnils Pasteur, Dole (Jura): Established in 1962, with housing units built from 1962 to 1978. Architect-urbanist: Maurice Novarina. Petite-Hollande, Montbéliard (Doubs): Established in 1963.

Île-de-France

The ZUP procedure was applied to 22 sites in the region between 1958 and 1969, covering (roughly half the area of Paris) to create housing units.

With the exception of Seine-et-Marne, the departments listed below, established under the law of , did not exist when most ZUPs were created.

Seine-et-Marne

Plaine du Lys, Dammarie-lès-Lys: housing units built from 1959 to 1970. Architect-urbanist: Louis Arretche. Beauval, Meaux: housing units built from 1960 to 1968. Architect-urbanist: Marcel Lods. L'Almont, Melun: housing units built from 1962 to 1976. Architect-urbanist: Léon Bazin. Surville, Montereau-Fault-Yonne: housing units built from 1961 to 1972. Architect-urbanist: Xavier Arsène-Henry. Mont-Saint-Martin, Nemours: social housing units built from 1963 to 1981. Architect-urbanist: Henri-Jean Calsat.

Yvelines

Le Val-Fourré, Mantes-la-Jolie: housing units built from 1959 to 1977. Architect-urbanists: Raymond Lopez, Henri Longepierre, and M. Gojard. Bel-Air, Saint-Germain-en-Laye: Established in 1965, with housing units. Sartrouville: Established in 1964. Architect-urbanist: Roland Dubrulle.