A cross-border eco-district between Strasbourg and Kehl
By
Miriam Eisermann on 13 octobre 2011
On September 20, the city of Strasbourg presented a large-scale urban project (250 hectares, 9.000 dwellings foreseen, 1.4 million sqm of gross floor area). The distinctive feature of "Métropole des Deux-Rives" is that it foresees to open up its territory to its German neighbour, the city of Kehl.
The project will receive financial and operational support by the French government in the framework of the Ecocité programme.
According to Strasbourg’s officials this project will help reduce urban sprawl and bring the city closer to its German counterpart at the other side of the river Rhine.
During the next 15 years, 24 construction sites are foreseen at both sides of the river Rhine with 50.000 additional inhabitants to be expected within the next 20 years.
This EcoCité project will attach importance in particular to
- green spaces (parks, urban gardening initiatives etc.)
- innovation in sustainable development matters in all the 24 foreseen projects
- shorter travel distances between home and workplace thanks to public transports, existing or new ones.
As a symbol of this new cross-border urban area, Strasbourg’s tramline D will be extended to Kehl’s train station. More than that, a new bridge will be crossing the Rhine as a further link between Germany and France.

Further information (in French)
Read the summary of the Ecocités project
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The Urban Area of Strasbourg is member of the Energy Cities network since 1996.
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Photo credits : Strasbourg.eu - Forum des Ecoquartiers