Banlay: Nevers residents visited their future neighborhood in virtual reality

On Friday, October 30, residents of Le Banlay took a stroll through their neighborhood as it will be in 2028. The future village square, the new streets, the trees, the pedestrian crossings: everything was there, at eye level. All it took was putting on a headset.

It took place at Espace Martin-Luther-King, following the public meeting organized by the City of Nevers on phases 3 and 4 of the neighborhood's urban renewal.

A public meeting extended into virtual reality

The evening was dedicated to the developments planned for 2027 and 2028, presented by elected officials with the participation of Nièvre Habitat. It continued with a social gathering and the discovery of the main developments using virtual reality headsets.

When you can walk through a project, the discussion changes. People are no longer commenting on a plan; they are reacting to a place. The consultation becomes a tangible conversation between residents, elected officials, and project owners.

"Banlay in VR", an experience created by Vectuel

The experience is based on the 3D model of the entire city, produced by Vectuel for Nevers in 2025. Two major projects are integrated into it: the transformation of Le Banlay and the redevelopment of Rue François-Mitterrand and the city center streets (pedestrian area, greening, Place Guy-Coquille). The City is opening them to the public through interactive 3D tours, allowing everyone to explore them before construction begins.

Not just another image: a shared moment, where everyone discovers their future neighborhood in their own way, at their own pace. Find the details of the mission in our project sheet Nevers: the 3D city serving public consultation.

Key Takeaways

• When: Friday, October 30, 2026, 6:00 PM, Espace Martin-Luther-King in Nevers

• What: Public meeting on phases 3 and 4 of the Banlay NPNRU, 2027–2028 developments

• The experience: The future village square to explore in virtual reality

• Project owners: Ville de Nevers, Nièvre Habitat, Nièvre Aménagement, Habellis, 1001 Vies Habitat

• Supporters: ANRU, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Region, the French State, Banque des Territoires, Nevers Agglomération, and their partners

Acknowledgments

We owe this moment to a City that chose to show before building. Thank you to Denis Thuriot, Mayor of Nevers, as well as to Anne Wozniak and Daniel Devoise, his deputy mayors for Urban Planning and Major Projects, for placing their trust in us. And thank you to Nièvre Habitat and all project partners for being fully on board.

FAQ

What is the Banlay urban renewal project?

It is the transformation of the Banlay neighborhood in Nevers as part of the New National Urban Renewal Program (NPNRU), supported by the ANRU. Public spaces, streets, and housing are being redeveloped in phases.

What do phases 3 and 4 entail?

They focus on the 2027 and 2028 developments, including the future village square. They were presented to residents during the public meeting on October 30, 2026.

How did residents discover the future neighborhood?

Following the meeting, they were able to put on a virtual reality headset and explore the future village square at eye level, through the "Banlay in VR" experience designed by our teams.

Can the Nevers projects be visited in 3D?

Yes. The City of Nevers offers interactive 3D tours on its website of the redevelopment of Rue François-Mitterrand and the future Banlay neighborhood, accessible to everyone via a browser.