Special Spring of the Territories 2026: Committed on all fronts

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1. ANALYTICAL SUMMARY

Context and major challenges of French territories in 2026

France is undergoing a period of profound changes that are reshaping territorial organisation. The historic demographic shift (645,000 births against 651,000 deaths in 2023) arrives ten years earlier than expected, while ageing accelerates: 7 million people over 85 are expected by 2050. Territorial fractures are increasing with 73% of French people having given up at least one healthcare service in the last five years (+10 points in two years), waiting times for specialists that have doubled since 2019, and 2.94 million households waiting for social housing. Digital technology is experiencing a rapid adoption of AI (48% of French people use it), but it is creating new inequalities. Climate adaptation is becoming urgent with the erosion of the coastline, flooding, and the need to decarbonise.

Operational contributions: solutions, actors and mobilisable funding

The document presents the concrete measures implemented by the Bank of Territories and its partners to address these challenges. The ANCT has supported 8,000 local authorities since 2020 through programmes such as Action Heart of the City (11 billion euros mobilised), Small Towns of Tomorrow (4 billion), and Villages of the Future. The Health-Grand Age roadmap mobilises 25 billion over five years, of which 6 billion is already committed by 2025, for home care, intermediate housing, and the medico-social offer. The housing recovery plan includes a bill expected for summer 2026 with administrative simplification, creation of local interest operations, and the launch of an Anru 3 for 2030-2040 concerning 150 neighbourhoods. The national digital twin (Junn) benefits from 25 million euros over three years to pool data and climate simulations. The Bank of Territories mobilised 49 billion euros in 2025 (+36% vs 2024), of which 23 billion for housing and 10 billion for local authorities.

2. KEY POINTS OF THE DOCUMENT

1. Territorial engineering, the keystone of local action

Christophe Bouillon, president of the ANCT, states that "engineering is essential today, we cannot do without it" (p. 4-7). Since 2020, the ANCT has supported 8,000 local authorities through around twenty programmes, with 2,500 local authorities benefiting from tailored engineering. The new 2026 roadmap (expected in June) will strengthen the pivotal role of the prefect and emphasise adaptation to climate change, particularly the retreat of the coastline and flooding. The challenge: to coordinate more and improve efficiency in a context where around fifty reports have been produced on the agency since its creation.

2. Health and ageing: a demographic wall that demands action

Prevention is described as the "battle of the decade" by the report Charges and Products of Health Insurance (p. 11-17). The Caisse des Dépôts group has committed nearly 6 billion euros in 2025 out of the 25 billion planned over five years, divided between loans (3.6 billion to health and social care structures) and investments (2.2 billion in companies and innovation). Multi-professional health centres (MSPs) are favoured by 82% of the French, with 2,981 MSPs established by 31 December 2025, aiming for 4,000 by 2027. The renunciation of care is skyrocketing: 73% of the French in 2026 compared to 63% in 2024, particularly affecting those aged 18-35 (85%). Waiting times for a medical appointment have doubled in seven years: two weeks for a general practitioner (compared to four days in 2019), four months for a dermatologist (compared to two months).

3. Housing: between structural crisis and unprecedented financial mobilisation

Le secteur du logement social a enregistré 117 689 agréments en 2025, soutenu par la baisse du livret A et l'allègement de 200 millions d'euros de la Réduction de Loyer de Solidarité (p. 20-23). Le gouvernement prépare un projet de loi pour l'été 2026 créant les "opérations d'intérêt local" pour accélérer l'instruction et limiter les recours abusifs. Les propriétaires de logements classés F et G pourront continuer à louer sous condition de réaliser les travaux dans un délai de trois à cinq ans, sauvant entre 650 000 et 700 000 logements de l'exclusion locative d'ici 2028. Un Anru 3 est annoncé pour 2030-2040, concernant environ 150 quartiers incluant centres-villes dévitalisés et QPV, avec une approche "360°" intégrant déserts médicaux, précarité énergétique et narcotrafic. Malgré la baisse démographique annoncée, le besoin en logements reste élevé (6,8 millions d'unités pour 2020-2050) en raison de la fragmentation des ménages, avec 95% des nouveaux ménages composés d'une seule personne.

4. Transition numérique : souveraineté et nouvelles fractures

The adoption of generative AI reaches 48% of the French in 2026, compared to 20% in 2022, representing a progression three times faster than Facebook or the smartphone (p. 24-29). ChatGPT dominates with 63% of users, creating new inequalities: 85% of 18-24 year olds use AI compared to 15% of those over 70, 76% of executives compared to 38% of workers. The State is reinforcing its digital sovereignty: the CNRS is abandoning Zoom and Teams for Visio by 2027, the Ministry of Defence is renouncing Microsoft. The launch of the digital resilience index (DRI) aims to map dependencies and promote European solutions in the face of the 265 billion euros of spending benefiting American giants. The national digital twin (Junn) benefits from 25 million euros over three years, with a consortium of 14 public-private partners and 200 actors grouped in the "Team France of digital twins". Cybersecurity is becoming a priority with the generalisation of multi-factor authentication by 2027 and preparation for the NIS2 directive.

5. Demographic decline: from denial to planning

The number of births (645,000 in 2023) is now lower than the number of deaths (651,000), a shift occurring ten years earlier than expected by INSEE (p. 18-19). Thomas Vermot and Lola Pradayrol (SCET) denounce the "denial of decline": in their PLUs, local authorities use terms like "stem", "stop", "reverse trends" while demographic decline becomes inevitable for many territories. The experienced decline generates vacancy (over 7 million under-occupied homes), urban wastelands, and deterioration of the housing stock, with 60% of space consumption occurring in areas losing attractiveness. Circular urban planning is emerging as a response: optimise existing buildings, build "the village within the village", rehabilitate town centres rather than create new peripheral housing estates. The Zero Net Artificialisation (ZNA) by 2050 could be a measure to take this decline into account, requiring political support at all levels of governance.

3. ACTION PATHWAYS FOR LOCAL ACTORS

1. Mobilise the engineering of the ANCT to structure its territorial project

Request the National Agency for the Cohesion of Territories to benefit from free engineering support, whether the municipality is included in a programme (Action Heart of the City, Small Towns of Tomorrow, Villages of the Future, Industrial Territories) or not (bespoke engineering available). Contact the departmental prefect, designated as the pivot of territorial action, to identify mobilisable mechanisms and build a coherent project at the scale of the living area. Relevant pages: 4-7.

2. Develop multi-professional health houses and intermediate housing for seniors

Use the France Santé label (included in the 2026 finance law) as a lever for recognition to create or consolidate coordinated primary care teams (MSP) aiming for the objective of 4,000 structures by 2027. Mobilise funding from the Banque des Territoires (5 of the 25 billion from the Health-Grand Age programme) to develop intermediate housing through partnerships with HLM organisations/associations or direct investments with ESS actors. Strengthen territorial engineering dedicated to adapting to ageing, as requested by Stéphane Troussel (p. 11-14). Relevant pages: 11-17.

3. Use the guide "Act for Social Housing" to unlock local production

Take ownership of the guide developed by the USH in partnership with the APVF, France Urbaine and Intercommunalités de France, detailing five areas of action: regulatory urban planning (PLU), land action, operational urban planning, local taxation and direct financial support. Mobilise tools without burdening the municipal budget: loan guarantees, land reduction, establishment of social mix sectors. Prepare files in anticipation of the Housing Bill (summer 2026) creating "local interest operations" and Anru 3 (selection of neighbourhoods in the autumn). Participate in the Social Housing Day scheduled for 11 June 2026 in Arras to exchange with peers. Relevant pages: 20-23.

4. Engage in the Junn programme to benefit from a territorial digital twin

Join the "France Team of Digital Twins of Territories" via the Expertises Territoires platform, as a pilot user or solution provider. Use Junn to bring together in one environment the data necessary for identifying areas suitable for renewable energies (APER law), simulating floods, heat islands, wildfires, or optimising mobility. Experiment in the four pilot territories (Alpes-Maritimes, Charente-Maritime, Gironde, Ille-et-Vilaine) before the national rollout planned for 2029. Relevant pages: 24-25.

5. Plan for adaptation to climate change by integrating demographic decline

Adopt a circular urban planning approach to optimise existing buildings: mobilise the 7 million under-occupied homes, rehabilitate vacant town centres, create forms of shared housing for seniors rather than new peripheral housing estates. Engage public land establishments (EPF) to carry out complex rehabilitation projects over the long term and benefit from sustainable funding through a "rural action plan". Integrate Zero Net Artificialisation (ZAN 2050) as an opportunity for territorial reconfiguration rather than as a constraint, by planning renaturation and de-densification operations adapted to demographic shifts. Use Contracts for the Success of Ecological Transition (CRTE) based on the residents' living area. Relevant pages: 18-19, 30-43.

4. ADDITIONAL REFERENCES

🔍➕ For more information, see the articles referenced by "Health Practices" on the theme of territorial policy➡️🔗  https://pratiquesensante.odoo.com/3-1-politiques-territoriales

1. National Land Use Strategy — Dominique Faure Report (January 2026)

This report proposes the adoption of a national land use strategy from 2026 to the horizon of 2035 and 2050, with a breakdown into territorial strategic orientations at the regional and intercommunal levels. An essential document for understanding the planning framework within which the local actions described in Localtis Mag are situated. Available on the IGEDD website: https://www.banquedesterritoires.fr/sites/default/files/2026-02/Rapport%20Am%C3%83nagement%20du%20territoire%20Dominique%20Faure.pdf

2. CHOC bill proposal (Strengthening Housing, Housing Supply and Construction) — adopted by the Senate on 20 January 2026

Sets a target of 400,000 new homes per year by 2030 (including 120,000 social), reform of the SRU law, gradual elimination of the RLS by 2031. An essential complement to the government bill announced for summer 2026 in Localtis Mag. URL: https://www.senat.fr/leg/ppl25-171.html

5. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

1. What are the ANCT programmes available for a municipality with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants?

The ANCT offers several schemes depending on the size and situation of the community: Action Heart of the City for the 244 structuring medium-sized towns, Small Towns of Tomorrow for the 1,600 municipalities with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants, Future Villages for 3,000 rural towns, and Industrial Territories for industrial employment areas. Tailored engineering is also available for towns outside the programmes. Contact via the departmental prefect, designated as the pivot of territorial action. Relevant pages: 4-7.

2. How to finance the construction of social housing in a constrained budget context?

The Bank of Territories has mobilised 23 billion euros for housing in 2025, financing 122,000 homes (almost one in two homes built in France). Local authorities have five levers of action detailed in the USH guide: regulatory urban planning (PLU), land action (land reduction), operational urban planning, local taxation, and direct financial support (loan guarantees in particular). The bill expected for summer 2026 will simplify procedures through "local interest operations" (accelerated instruction, single authorisation). Relevant pages: 20-23, 45-47.

3. What concrete solutions exist to improve access to healthcare in rural areas?

The deployment of multi-professional health houses (MSP) is the preferred solution: 82% of French people prefer an MSP bringing together several professionals rather than a single professional. 2,981 MSPs were established as of 31 December 2025, with a target of 4,000 by 2027 through the MSP Plan and the France Santé label. Funding from the Bank of Territories (Health-Grand Age roadmap of 25 billion over five years) is available for hospital projects, MSPs, and health centres. Relevant pages: 15-17.

4. How can a local authority benefit from the national digital twin (Junn)?

Junn provides access to homogeneous national data, 2D/3D visualisation tools, and software components that allow for quick access to basic functionalities without heavy initial investment. Local authorities can join the "Team France of digital twins" via the Expertises Territoires platform as a pilot user or solution provider. The first calls for contributions are expected before the end of 2026, with a prototype of the technical base anticipated in spring 2027 and operational use in 2029. Relevant pages: 24-25.

5. What are the cybersecurity obligations for local authorities in 2026?

The State's SSI roadmap mandates the generalisation of multi-factor authentication by 28 February 2027 for "high-stakes" information systems, and one year later for others. Administrator positions must be equipped by the end of 2026, and generic accounts must be removed. The NIS2 directive requires affected local authorities to report incidents within 24 hours, with penalties of up to 10 million euros. The digital resilience index (DRI) launched in January 2026 allows local authorities to self-assess on 20 criteria spread across eight dimensions. Relevant pages: 26-27.

6. How to plan land use while integrating demographic decline?

It is necessary to acknowledge the demographic reality rather than deny the decline in urban planning documents (PLU, SCoT) by adopting a circular urban planning approach. Specifically: optimise the 7 million under-occupied homes, build "the village within the village" by rehabilitating vacant town centres, create forms of shared housing for seniors, limit land artificialisation (ZAN 2050). Public land establishments (EPF) can carry out complex rehabilitation projects over the long term. A "rural action plan" with sustainable funding is necessary to address brownfield sites and support declining areas. Relevant pages: 18-19, 21.

7. What funding is available for local authorities' ecological transition projects?

The Bank of Territories has mobilised 2.4 billion euros for water in 2025 (of which 2.1 billion is part of the Aquagir programme) and 1 billion for energy. The Contracts for the Success of the Ecological Transition (CRTE) are based on the residents' living area. The EduRénov' programme has supported the renovation of 6,500 schools. The long-term loans from the Bank of Territories total 41.7 billion in 2025 (+46% vs 2024), focusing on high value-added projects: mobility (railway equipment, clean buses, cycle paths), environment, economic development. Relevant pages: 30-43, 45-47, 58-59.

6. REWRITING IN EASY TO READ FORMAT

What the Localtis Mag document says in Easy to Read and Understand

Territories are changing a lot in France

France is changing a lot at the moment.

There are fewer babies being born.

There are more elderly people.

This changes life in cities and villages.

The problem of getting medical care

Many people cannot find a doctor.

You have to wait a long time to get an appointment.

This mainly affects young people and those in rural areas.

Health centres with multiple professionals help to solve this problem.

There are almost 3,000 in France.

The problem of housing

Almost 3 million people are waiting for social housing.

It is very difficult to find a flat.

The government will make a new law in 2026.

It will simplify the construction of housing.

The Bank of Territories helps to build half of the housing in France.

Digital technology is changing our habits

Half of the French people use artificial intelligence.

It is very fast: in just 3 years.

But not everyone has the same opportunities.

Young people and executives use it more than retirees and workers.

The State wants France to be independent in digital technology.

It will use fewer American tools like Microsoft.

Some areas are losing inhabitants

Some regions of France are losing inhabitants.

There are more deaths than births now.

Mayors must adapt to this situation.

It is necessary to renovate empty housing in the centre of villages.

No more new neighbourhoods should be built on the outskirts.

Aid for mayors and elected officials

The ANCT helps 8,000 municipalities in France.

It offers free advice.

It helps to set up projects.

The Bank of Territories lends money to municipalities.

It provided 49 billion euros in 2025.

That's much more than before.

What elected officials can do

Request help from the ANCT for their projects.

Create health centres with several doctors.

Build housing for elderly people.

Use digital tools to better manage the town.

Renovate empty buildings in the centre of the village.

Request loans from the Bank of Territories to finance the work.

Examples that work

In Châtellerault, an old school has become 15 housing units.

In Occitanie, farmers are planting trees for water.

Cities are using digital twins to simulate the climate.

These examples show that solutions exist.

7. CROSS-ANALYSIS — VALUES OF HEALTH PRACTICES

Literacy : The document offers tools adapted to varying levels of understanding: practical guides for elected officials (p. 22-23), illustrated feedback from experiences (p. 38-43), and a platform Expertises Territoires to facilitate access to technical information (p. 25). The expert tone remains dense, requiring adaptation for some non-professional audiences.

Empowerment : The beneficiaries (residents, tenants) are involved in several initiatives: participatory tree planting with schools in Rhône Crussol (p. 42-43), residents as actors in urban transformation in Basse-Terre via the "Kaz a Pwojè" (p. 54), but their participation remains marginal in the initial design of the described policies.

Participation : The co-construction mechanisms are limited: the document mentions institutional partnerships (State, local authorities, operators) but few formalised mechanisms for direct citizen involvement in the development of territorial strategies. The conferences of funders for the prevention of loss of autonomy represent a "system that works because it is territorialised" according to Olivier Richefou (p. 13).

Community health : The collective dimension is integrated through multi-professional health houses (MSP) promoting coordination among professionals and collective prevention (80% of respondents recognise the interest in prevention actions, p. 15). The conferences of funders mobilise local actors for territorialised actions to prevent loss of autonomy (p. 13).

Ethics : Cultural or social biases are identified but poorly addressed: the document mentions territorial fractures in access to care (p. 16-17), digital inequalities between social categories (p. 28-29), but does not specify a specific strategy to correct these imbalances beyond general mechanisms.

Human rights : L'approche respecte globalement les principes d'équité et d'inclusion : l'Anru 3 ciblera les "centres-villes dévitalisés" et les quartiers QPV (p. 20), les programmes Petites Villes de demain et Villages d'avenir visent les territoires ruraux en déprise. L'accent est mis sur l'accessibilité universelle des services (santé, logement, numérique) mais sans mention explicite des droits opposables.

Intersectorialité : Les partenariats sont fortement recommandés : le consortium Junn réunit 14 partenaires publics-privés (IGN, Cerema, Inria, CNES, BRGM, etc., p. 24-25), la feuille de route Santé-Grand Âge mobilise Banque des Territoires, CNSA, départements, Assurance maladie. Le programme Territoires d'industrie fonctionne en binôme chef d'entreprise/élu (p. 7).

Partenariat : Des modèles de collaboration sont formalisés : contrats de réciprocité entre métropoles et intercommunalités périphériques (Rouen/Caux-Austreberthe pour les mobilités, Toulouse/PETR Portes de Gascogne pour l'alimentation, p. 6), Contrats pour la Réussite de la Transition Écologique (CRTE) appuyés sur les bassins de vie (p. 6). Le guide USH détaille les modalités de partenariats organismes HLM/collectivités (p. 22-23).

Lutte contre les discriminations : Le document mentionne les discriminations territoriales (déserts médicaux, p. 16-17 ; inégalités d'accès au logement, p. 20-23) et numériques (fracture générationnelle et sociale de l'IA, p. 28-29). Aucune discrimination liée au genre, à l'origine ou à l'orientation sexuelle n'est explicitement abordée. Le principe de non-jugement et la diversité ne sont pas thématisés, le document restant centré sur les aspects techniques et financiers de l'action territoriale.

8. ÉVALUATION DE LA FIABILITÉ DE LA RESSOURCE

Pertinence scientifique

Sources citées : Le document s'appuie sur des sources institutionnelles fiables : Agence Nationale de la Cohésion des Territoires (ANCT), Caisse des Dépôts, Fédération Hospitalière de France (FHF), Union Sociale pour l'Habitat (USH), INSEE, Service des Données et Études Statistiques (SDES), Institut national d'études démographiques (Ined), Arcep, Arcom, Crédoc. Les données chiffrées sont précises et datées (enquêtes Ipsos février 2026, baromètre du numérique 2026, etc.).

Méthodologie : Les articles sont issus de Localtis, média professionnel de référence pour les collectivités territoriales, complétés par des avis d'experts (SCET, PariSanté Campus, urbanistes) et des retours d'expériences terrain (Expériences Territoires, Numérique360). La méthodologie des enquêtes est mentionnée (échantillons représentatifs, instituts reconnus) mais pas systématiquement détaillée.

Actualité des données : Les données sont récentes et actuelles (janvier-mai 2026), avec des références aux dernières évolutions législatives et réglementaires (projet de loi Logement été 2026, directive NIS2, feuille de route ANCT juin 2026). Certaines projections à long terme (2030-2050) s'appuient sur des études INSEE validées.

Pertinence opérationnelle

Utilisabilité directe : Le document est directement exploitable par les professionnels de terrain : coordonnées des directions régionales de la Banque des Territoires (p. 60-63), montants de financements précis, calendriers d'appels à projets, outils téléchargeables (guide USH, plateforme Expertises Territoires). Les retours d'expériences incluent chiffres-clés, montages financiers et partenaires mobilisés.

Exhaustivité : The document covers the essentials of the territorial issues 2026 (health, housing, digital, demographics, climate) but remains focused on the mechanisms of the Bank of Territories and its partners, not presenting the entirety of the institutional landscape. Some themes (education, security, culture) are underdeveloped.

Limits: The tone is institutional and promotional for the Caisse des Dépôts mechanisms, with little critical distance on the difficulties of implementation or potential failures. The issues of multi-level governance (region, department, intercommunal, municipality) are not problematised. The absence of an initial easy-to-read version limits accessibility for audiences distant from technical literacy.