Module XII·Article III·~2 min read
Construction and Development Projects in French
Real Estate and Development in French
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Construction and Development Projects in French
Stages of a Development Project
Phase amont (pre-development)
- l'acquisition du terrain — land acquisition
- l'étude de faisabilité — feasibility study
- le bilan prévisionnel — project preliminary budget
- le programme immobilier — project program
Permits and Authorizations
- le permis de construire (PC) — building permit (key document)
- le permis d'aménager — planning permit
- le certificat d'urbanisme — urban planning certificate
- la déclaration préalable — preliminary notification (for minor works)
- le PLU (Plan Local d'Urbanisme) — local urban development plan (zoning)
Conception (design)
- le programme — design brief
- le plan masse — site plan (masterplan)
- les plans d'exécution — working drawings
- l'avant-projet sommaire (APS) — conceptual design
- l'avant-projet définitif (APD) — final design
Construction (construction)
- le chantier — construction site
- le gros œuvre — structure works (foundation, walls, floors)
- le second œuvre — finishing works (interior finishing, engineering)
- les corps d'état — types of construction works
- la réception des travaux — work acceptance
- les réserves — remarks upon acceptance
- la livraison — completion and handover
Commercialization
- la VEFA (Vente en État Futur d'Achèvement) — off-plan sale (sale at construction stage)
- le plan de vente — sales plan
- le bureau de vente — sales office
- le lancement commercial — sales launch
- le taux de réservation — reservation rate (share of reserved units)
- la SRU (loi Solidarité et Renouvellement Urbain) — Social Housing Law (20-25% mandatory)
Key Actors in Construction
| French | Translation / Role |
|---|---|
| le maître d'ouvrage (MOA) | client / developer |
| le maître d'œuvre (MOE) | designer / general contractor |
| l'architecte | architect (mandatory under French law) |
| le bureau d'études techniques (BET) | engineering office (structure, engineering) |
| l'entreprise générale (EG) | general contractor |
| les corps de métier | specialized subcontractors |
| le coordinateur SPS | safety coordinator |
| le contrôleur technique | technical inspector |
Financial Plan (bilan promoteur)
Bilan prévisionnel — key document for project evaluation:
- Recettes (revenues): chiffre d'affaires prévisionnel = selling price × total area
- Dépenses (expenses): land + construction + design costs + commercialization costs + financial costs + contingencies
- Gross margin = Revenues - Expenses
- Margin rate = Gross margin / Revenue → commonly targeted >8-12%
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