Image: Istock
CASE STUDY
Community regeneration – a French model
PEOPLE & CULTURE
Nina Cilins
Consultant, Campbell Tickell
Nina Cilins
Project Consultant, Campbell Tickell
Issue 82 | February 2026
5Bridges, also named the Solidarity Village, is an ambitious social innovation project located in the city of Nantes, France, developed with support from the European Union’s Urban Innovative Actions (UIA) programme.
Conceived as an integrated response to homelessness and urban poverty, the project combines housing, social services, economic activity, and community spaces within a single mixed-use development. The name ‘5Bridges’ (‘5Ponts’ in French) reflects its holistic approach centred around five thematic pillars: housing, employment, health, inclusion, and citizen participation.
Launched in 2013 and completed in 2022, the project represents a total investment of approximately €22 million. The 9,700 m² complex includes emergency and transitional accommodation, social housing, offices, retail units, public facilities, an urban farm and shared outdoor spaces. After securing the necessary funding to start construction in 2019, the site became active in spring 2021 and opened completely in 2022.
Key attributes
The defining attribute of 5Bridges is its holistic, people-centred and empowering approach to homelessness, addressing both immediate needs and root causes. The project provides a range of housing solutions: a day centre for up to 60 people, night shelter capacity for 30 individuals, 40 transitional housing units, and 10 permanent social housing units. These are complemented by on-site health, social, and employment support services.
Rather than isolating vulnerable groups, the site was deliberately designed as an open neighbourhood (‘neighbourhood for all’) with multiple opportunities for social interactions and connections. Social enterprises – including a restaurant, bar, solidarity shop, and urban farm – offer employment opportunities for service users while attracting local residents, fostering positive social diversity and reducing stigma.
Objectives and innovation
The project’s primary objective was to move beyond fragmented homelessness services by creating one integrated and dignified environment that supports long-term social inclusion. Its innovation lies in combining housing, care, employment, and public life in a single place, while actively involving service users in its governance, maintenance, activities, and daily operations.
This participatory model challenges traditional top-down service delivery and reframes people experiencing homelessness as active contributors and actors of their recovery rather than passive beneficiaries.
Approach
This ambitious idea was delivered through a strong partnership between the City of Nantes, Nantes Metropole, social housing providers, NGOs, house builder and housing manager organisations, urban planners, and community organisations.
The architectural design prioritised flexibility, shared spaces, and permeability with the surrounding neighbourhood. Construction followed sustainable principles, contributing to the project’s EcoQuartier certification, received in 2020.
The project adopted an experimental approach supported by Urban Innovation Actions (UIA) funding, allowing continuous learning, adaptation, and cross-sector collaboration.
Outcomes and impact
Now operating 24/7, 5Bridges has become a stable hub for housing support and social cohesion. It has improved access to housing pathways, healthcare, and employment for hundreds of users while strengthening local community ties.
The EcoQuartier label recognises its environmental and social performance multiplying wins on all levels. More broadly, the project has influenced local and European policy discussions by demonstrating that integrated, mixed-use developments can deliver measurable social, economic, and urban benefits.
This piece was written for Future of Londonʼs ‘Future London Leadersʼ programme in line with the current theme of Homes for the Future.
