French towns selling off land cheaply benefit from population growth
Land sold for as little as €1/m² helps rejuvenate rural areas and increase commercial activity
Seven new births were recorded in the rural commune of Brignon in 2024, which sold land for €1/m² in 2017 to fight depopulation
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A commune in central France is reaping the rewards of its decision to sell land for virtually no cost to help rebuild its population.
Ten plots of land in Brignon (Haute-Loire) were chosen in 2017 for the experiment, which saw them sold for €1/m² to young couples, provided they decided to build a main home and reside permanently in the commune.
The decision has more than paid off – in ten years, the population of the village has risen by 30, with seven births recorded in 2024.
It means the total population of the commune is now 622, with 44 pupils enrolled at the local school – enough to keep the establishment open.
In addition, the commune’s mayor is looking to build a day nursery (gardere des enfants), with €250,000 invested in the project due to start in spring.
The mayor formerly renovated the old community hall into a bar and restaurant, doubling the number of commercial areas in the village.
More communes experiment with cheap sales
Such measures have become increasingly popular in rural communities looking to entice people to return to the countryside.
Following the example of towns in southern Italy – and the UK – properties in depopulated or run-down areas are sold as low as possible by the commune.
Similarly in rural areas, empty plots of land are sold with the intention of a home being built on them, with the plots sold for €1/m² (although the property will still need to be constructed with other funds).
Read more: Land for sale at €1 per m² in rural village in central France
In some cases, those purchasing the plots are given hefty grants by the mairie, covering essentially the entire cost of purchase of homes or property construction.
In return, those benefitting usually need to commit to keeping the property as a main residence and living full-time in the commune, which mayors hope will bring work, services, and potentially growing families into the area.
Similar methods are also used to combat rising second-home ownership in some communes, particularly in areas where rates are high.
Read more: Breton town offsets second homes with cut-price building plots
