Le Conseil d’État valide le projet de centre commercial “Porte des Pyrénées” à Muret après un long bras de fer judiciaire

After a long legal battle, the Council of State has just approved the “Porte des Pyrénées” shopping center project in Muret, despite the controversies it generates. In the end, the commercial area will cover over 25,000 m², south of Toulouse, despite the refusal of the mayor of the city.

The verdict has just been delivered. This Thursday, April 4, the Council of State has reached a crucial decision in a dispute regarding the “Porte des Pyrénées” shopping center project in Muret. This case opposed the company of the same name to the mayor of the city, André Mandement, following the latter’s refusal to issue a building permit for a commercial complex of 25,295 square meters.

The controversial project of the “Porte des Pyrénées” shopping center

As a reminder, the “Porte des Pyrénées” shopping center is a project led by the city of Muret for over twenty years now. It provides for the creation of a complex including a large distribution store, a shopping gallery, and shops located on medium-sized surfaces in a concerted development zone (ZAC).

However, in 2018, the mayor of the city, André Mandement, did not grant the building permit after an unfavorable opinion from the National Commission for Commercial Development (CNAC). The latter then justified its decision by citing the uncertainty about the brand that would be established in the supermarket and the possibility of a future modification of the project.

In July 2023, the Administrative Court of Appeal of Toulouse finally decided to annul the mayor’s refusal and ordered the National Commission for Commercial Development to give a favorable opinion on the project within a period of three months. In addition, the mayor of Muret had to review his decision within two months following this favorable opinion.

Despite this announcement, the company Christal, based in Noé in Haute-Garonne and owner of supermarkets, filed an appeal with the Council of State against this decision of the Administrative Court of Appeal of Toulouse. A few months later, the highest French administrative court rejected the appeal, considering that the arguments put forward by the company Christal were not sufficient to justify the opening of an in-depth examination procedure.