The first business park, "Quai du Large", is already home to companies like V1D2 (racing yacht preparation), Artech and Yachts Industries (yacht design and construction). Planned for the future are marina pontoons, a fixed crane and a travel-lift. Road improvements are also planned to link the business incubator zone with the basin. The second business park, "Grand Canal", stretches from the Colombelles Bridge to the RVI basin where additional pontoons for boatyards and large yachts will be added.

Normandie Aménagement SEM has been delegated the task of creating these business parks and has already purchased the ACM building using its real estate fund. The redevelopment will be accomplished jointly by the CCI (Chamber of Commerce & Industry) and the Civil Engineering department. Caen la mer is now moving towards the acquisition of additional land and buildings from Renault Trucks. Despite the complexities and restrictions inherent in redeveloping such an ecologically sensitive site, the full potential of the Norlanda programme is clear.

“Today, we need to align the programme with financial and technical reality but that is not simple and it must be done in small careful steps” according to Gilles Moreau, director of Normandie Aménagement.

One thing is clear: there can be no business park without businesses. Norlanda is therefore engaged on a marketing plan that is targeting four sectors covering not only marine and nautical businesses but also service companies attracted by the marine environment of Caen la mer, “and there are many of them” estimates Pascal Hurel. Norlanda will, without doubt, welcome the first regional “Eco-Nautique” centre in France, dedicated to the scrapping and recycling of pleasure craft, employing an expected 15 people.

The initial prospecting phase began last year, notably at the Paris Boat Show, where initial business contact has been established. These contacts will be followed up this year along with promotional literature.

Less than a year after the official launching of the “Calvados Nautisme” development plan by the Conseil Général, Norlanda will add another weighty argument in confirmation of the nautical orientation of the department. “It’s an ambitious programme of 10-15 years to re-value an under-utilised resource and actively contribute to the strengthening of the nautical elements of the Calvados economy” reckons Gildas Gautier, representative of "Calvados Nautisme", for whom "Norlanda needs to be put in the context of all the many advantages of the department if one wants to realise a clear picture of Calvados as a maritime region".