Industrial village planned on former Ford site in Blanquefort: “Seeing this wasteland is heartbreaking”

Five years after the closure of the Ford factory in Blanquefort, the industrial village project is moving forward on the empty site that is now cleared of debris. Development update with the mayor of Blanquefort and the project leader, Axtom entrepreneurial group.

2,500 jobs on 250,000m2 of commercial buildings, including a kindergarten, shops, photovoltaic panels and planting 2,500 trees.… A true city within a city, the industrial village project is moving forward on the former Ford site in Blanquefort. “The Alstom company is completing the preliminary consultation this Tuesday, April 30. Then they will submit the planning permission in a few weeks. The permission that will be examined in 2025 before the first sod in 2026 and the placement of the first companies and of course the first workers, we hope in 2027“, notes Véronique Ferreira, mayor of Blanquefort guest of Eco from here this Friday April 26 on France Bleu Gironde.

“When we pass this wasteland, it hurts our hearts”

From 1973 until the end of production in the summer of 2019, the Ford Blanquefort factory produced gearboxes for American cars. Launched by Jacques Chaban-Delmas together with the grandson of the founder himself Henri Ford, the body, as the factory was nicknamed, was suddenly closed. leaving 848 workers behind. This second life of the industrial area is welcomed by some former Ford workers.

“It’s a great thing. I think it’s a second lifetestifies Eric Troyas, former secretary of the Force Ouvrière of Ford Aquitaine Industries. 2,500 jobs would be good for Gironde, for Aquitaine, for Blanquefort of course but also Mérignac, Saint-Médard, all the surrounding areas. The closing of Ford affected everyone, it was a fraud because we were cursed in the 90s by the Detroit company”insures an ex-employee with 40 years of seniority.

Joël Soulignac, one of the three co-founders of Axtom, with entrepreneurs, on the site of the future industrial village in Blanquefort. © Radio France –
Jules Brelaz

The project leader worked at Ford at the age of 17

Co-founder of the Axtom group, Joël Soulignac says he is aware of the issues surrounding this industrial village project. “When I was 17 years old, I worked at the Ford factory to pay for my first car and my father was an employee here. So I am very concerned about this issue and I have the responsibility that Madam reminded me. The mayor who told me – I would like to find you at home if it does not work I this role in mind!assures a business leader from Libourne.

“It is clear that for us Ford’s debts remain very heavy“, adds Véronique Ferreira. “Not long ago, I met with former employees again who told me that they felt the obligation to make a detour so that they would not pass in front of this big empty area because what we called the big yellow box was psychologically damaged, we need something. start instead of nothing.“, explains the mayor of Blanquefort.

On April 17, the government launched a list of 55 industrial sites in France that will be proposed “keys in hand” for project leaders. The former Ford site in Blanquefort is one of the 4 sites selected in New Aquitaine, the only region in the Gironde, says Véronique Ferreira. This government support can lead to the acceleration of procedures and public funding through the Banque des Territoires.