Monaco NABS part of the Mediterranean Sea to build new eco-neighbourhood

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Part of the L’Anse du Portier project will be built on water

Around 20 per cent of the new mini-town – which will comprise of 120 apartments and villas, gardens, parks, a Japanese garden and a marina – will be constructed ‘on water’.

Monaco is the second smallest state in world and also the most densely populated, with 37,800 inhabitants across the two square mile area.

With the small space crammed to the brim with expensive cars, banks, boutiques, casinos and five star hotels, acquiring new territory is nothing short of a challenge.

Turning their attention to the sea, developers have opted to take over six hectares of the water for the L’Anse du Portier project.

Construction is set to begin within days, and has been given the go-ahead by the local government.

The total value of the maritime infrastructure works is approximately €1 billion.

The group behind the project say they are committed to preserving the tranquility of Monaco during construction works, and have pledged to pay special attention to the welfare of marine life.

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Monaco is the world's second smallest state

The narrow strip of Monaco enjoys a privileged location on the French Riviera, with legal gambling and a tax-free lifestyle making it a favourite destination for wealthy Europeans.

Early plans to build out onto the water first surfaced in 2006, with the original idea opposed by ecologists. The global economic crisis also ensured the plans were scrapped by Monaco’s Prince Albert.

The idea was bandied once again in 2013, with more modest costs and a bigger commitment to environmental issues playing a key role in securing approval.

The construction technique to be used for the maritime infrastructure is a fill enclosed by a band of 18 trapezoid shaped reinforced concrete caissons, each one 26m tall and weighing 10,000 tonnes.

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These pre-cast units will be constructed in a floating dry dock and then launched and towed to the installation site where they will be sunk onto a prepared seabed and then filled with rock.

They will also units have wave absorption chamber fitted to their seaward side which will help to reduce breaches by strong swells and protect the exposed areas of the project.

Once these outer protection caissons are in place the area behind them will be filled with rock material with most of the 250,000 tonnes of rock needed for this project being shipped in from quarries in Sicily.

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Total value of the works is approximately €1 billion

The expansion project will be required to pay the closest attention to protecting the environment and preserving biodiversity.

With the Larvotto Reserve and the Spélugues coral reef close by, the construction work will be required to be mindful of neighbouring areas, sites and landscapes.