We knew Fives Cail for its massive industrial warehouses, Chaud Bouillon and its hotel management school. In the coming years, you might also come here just to relax in the grass. A 5-hectare park is currently being developed in the heart of the former industrial site, with the ambition of making it a new green destination for the entire Lille metropolis.
5 hectares of greenery will transform Fives Cail
To grasp the scale of the project, we need to look back a few years. For over a century, Fives Cail was one of Lille's major industrial hubs. Steam locomotives, equipment for the Eiffel Tower's elevators and even Shanghai's metro—creations from these former warehouses traveled considerably further than the number 1 line. After the factory's closure, the enormous 25-hectare industrial site gradually began its transformation into an eco-district. And the next major phase will be green. On the site of part of the former southern warehouses, a 5-hectare park open to everyone is set to appear, ima
designed by Atelier Jacqueline Osty & Associates. The project was initially supposed to occupy 3.5 hectares before finally being expanded to 5 hectares.A large meadow, a pond, play areas and even a skatepark
Besides, the future Fives Cail park won't just be a huge stretch of grass. Several different atmospheres are planned with a large meadow, a hill dedicated to play, sports areas, a skatepark, a city-stadium, shaded zones and quieter spaces devoted to nature. A pond of approximately 400 m² will also be created to help manage rainwater and promote biodiversity. All of this will be crossed by a 600-meter pedestrian quay and designed so you can come stroll, picnic, do sports or spend the afternoon outdoors. Some areas will intentionally be left quieter, without human intervention, to provide refuge for birds and small wildlife. Quite a radical change for this former industrial wasteland.
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1,500 trees to be planted on the Fives Cail site
When it comes to greenery, this project doesn't mess around. Eventually, 1,500 trees will be planted across the entire Fives Cail site. In the future park, 42 poplars already present will also be preserved. Linear gardens made up of different layers of vegetation will complete the picture. Here's a rather clever detail: they'll be watered thanks to rainwater collected from the roofs of the old market halls. The park should thus become one of the main natural spaces in the new neighborhood, while creating pedestrian continuity between the different sectors of Fives Cail.
Pieces of the old factory will be preserved in the middle of the park
But there's no question of transforming Fives Cail into a brand new park by erasing everything that came before. In fact, it's one of the most interesting particularities
interesting aspects of the project. Materials from deconstructing the old halls will be massively reused: Soreli is aiming for over 85% of materials recovered and more than 50 objects from the old factory must be reintegrated into the future park. Old rails, metal structures, bricks and industrial elements should thus remain visible in the landscape. 1.7 km of rails are notably set to be replanted in the new developments and five bunkers will be preserved on the site, three of which directly in the park. And when you know that 3.8 million bricks were inventoried as part of the project, you quickly understand the scale of the operation.A massive 32-meter-high hall integrated into the landscape
One of the most spectacular images should, however, be found on the Saint-Louis Hall side. Part of this old industrial structure is to be preserved so that its immense metal arches rising to around 32 meters become directly integrated into the park. The new green space will thus extendbeneath this gigantic framework. A funny mix between industrial wasteland and nature that should allow the future park to keep something very Fives Cail about it. Because a brand new park is great. A park installed in the middle of the remains of a former giant factory, well, that starts to have a bit more character.
A first section expected by 2027
You'll still have to wait before spreading out your picnic blanket. The selective deconstruction work on the old warehouses began in late 2025 and park development is taking place in 2026 and 2027. Soreli is planning a park delivery in 2027, before the completion of its extension beneath the Saint-Louis Hall between 2027 and 2028. The City of Lille for its part mentions end of 2028 for the scheduled end of the entire project. Ultimately, Fives Cail will include 13.5 hectares of public spaces, including these famous 5 hectares of park. And between the large meadow, the pond, the sports facilities, thousands of plantings and preserved industrial remains, the place is sure to become one of Lille's most unique new green spots.