Articles > Environment > Unites Touristiques Nouvelles
A Unités Touristiques Nouvelles is a French planning device covering new tourist developments in undeveloped mountain zones. They were created by a directive from French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaign following his famous Vallouise Speech. A keen skier Giscard was impressed by Montchavin-Les-Coches part of the la Plagne domain where he holidayed in 1976 and seemed to correspond to what he thought made a good mountain resort: a good sporting environment while respecting local tradtions and architecture.
A UTN project must consider economic and environmental impacts as well as providing access for day visitors and accommodation for season workers. Permission for the creation of a UTN is limited to communes with an urbanisation plan and has a four year time limit otherwise the authorisation is rescinded. In practise work only has to start within this time.
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