1 Euro A Square Meter - Land In France

05.05.2015
1 Euro A Square Meter - Land In France

The mayor of a small village in Normandy is offering plots of land for just 1 euro a square meter - but only to those who promise to build a house and live there full time. 

In total the village has put 4 civil owned plots of between 900 to 1,000 square meters up for sale. The mayor, Patrick Madeleine, is struggling to raise money to renovate the community hall and hopes the arrival of new families will raise municipal revenue. "We're in a period where money is short, with state grants being cut back," Mr Madeleine said. "The only way to bring a bit more wealth into the community is to bring in new residents." 

Faced with a declining population, the village of Champ-du-Boult, in the Calvados region, has been offering cut-price plots at 12 euro a square meter since 2007, but has been unable to attract any takers. According to publications, the cost of building a modest house would be about 1,300 euros per square meter of living space. 

Since the lower price was announced last week, hundreds of prospective buyers, including four or five Britons, have contacted the council. It will choose successful applicants in the next three to four weeks. 

Champ-du-Boult, a community of only 388 people, a quarter of who is British, s conveniently situated for the Normandy coast. The nearest railway station is in Vire, about 11 kilometers away. The closest airport is at Dinard about 100 kilometers away. It is also 45 minutes' drive from Mont-Saint-Michel.