The departmental units of architecture and heritage (UDAPs) of Hauts-de-France

Located in each department, the Departmental Units of Architecture and Heritage (UDAP) are responsible for promoting quality architecture and urban planning, integrating harmoniously in the surrounding environment. They ensure the relay of all policies related to heritage and the promotion of architectural, urban and landscape quality at the departmental level.

Presentation

Le champ d'action des UDAPs

The UDAP participate both in the history of construction and in the insertion of buildings in the landscape, in the establishment of coherent projects in protected areas, as well as in the preservation of exceptional monumental perspectives.

Protected spaces

Protected areas cover an important area of our territory. They encompass built and landscaped elements of various nature and eras, natural sites (mountain, coastal) or archaeological, or urban complexes... The regulations distinguish four large families of protected spaces:

The surroundings of historic monuments: 500 meters radius around a historic monument or modified protection perimeter (PPM).
Sites protected under the Environmental Code.
The saved sectors.
The Areas of development of architecture and heritage (AVAP).

Issuing opinions on projects

The issuing of opinions is an important function of the UDAP, which is entrusted by the State to verify the conformity of individual projects with provisions of general interest justified in particular by protective measures.
These opinions, which in certain specific cases are binding on the authority competent to issue the authorization (usually the mayor), concern building permits, preliminary declarations, demolition permits, development permits and planning certificates.
The architect of the Buildings of France therefore gives an opinion on any request for authorization of works located in a protected space, whatever its importance or nature. The absence and, in some cases, non-compliance with this notice may result in the cancellation of the authorization.

Missions des UDAPs

The three main missions:

Advise and promote quality urban planning and architecture.
Monitor and evaluate projects carried out in protected areas.
Ensure the conservation of historic monuments.

As such, the DDPAs are responsible for the following tasks:

issuing architectural opinions on applications for authorisation under the Urban Planning Code;
ensure the implementation of architectural assistance;
ensure that local authorities and the public are made aware of the quality of buildings and the development of natural and built spaces;
advise public building contractors in the development and implementation of their architectural projects;
to take part in the definition of the guidelines and the elaboration of the planning documents and to ensure the insertion of the prescriptions relative to the quality of the constructions and the protection of the landscapes;
to participate in the application of the laws concerning historical monuments, sites protected under the Environment Code, the Areas of development of architecture and heritage (AVAP) and the sectors safeguarded, propose all protective measures under those laws and, where appropriate, investigate those measures;
contribute to the appraisal of development projects or works that concern the surroundings of a historic monument, a site protected under the Environment Code, an Architectural and Heritage Development Area (AVAP) or a protected area and, may consider grant applications submitted under the provisions concerning these spaces;
Ensure the application of the laws on out-of-home advertising and signs and provide assistance to local authorities;
conduct interdepartmental missions related to sustainable land use planning and renewable energy development.

At the same time, the architects of the buildings of France, assigned to each territorial service of architecture and heritage, also exercise their own powers of authorization, agreement or recommendation that they keep laws and regulations in force.

Historique et organisation

By decree of 6 March 1976, the departmental departments of architecture succeeded the agencies of French buildings, born in the immediate post-war period.

The UDAP works mainly on behalf of the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition. In 1996 they were administratively attached to the former and made available to the latter.

The heads of the UDAP are architects and urban planners of the State (AUE) with the title of architect of the buildings of France (ABF). They are interested both in the history of construction, the ways in which space is occupied and in how buildings fit into the landscape. Through ABF monitoring missions, they contribute to the improvement of projects proposed by individuals and communities.

The UDAP are composed of teams of five to twenty people responding to multiple requests and bringing together:

Architects and Urban Planners of the State (AUE) providing the functions of framing the service, and carrying out the missions of architects of the Buildings of France (ABF);
Engineers from the cultural services assisting the AUE in their various missions;
technicians of the Cultural Services and
French buildings assisting the AUE in their various missions;
administrative staff providing the secretariat and management of services.

The UDAP are available to any citizen who has plans drawn up or feels the need for prior advice. This is particularly the case for owners of historic monuments and inhabitants of protected areas. They also accompany the main decision-makers throughout the process of a development project: the territorial officials (elected officials, technical services, inter-communal unions), civil servants of other State departments involved in the field of planning, professional builders or project owners (private or public developers, architects, landscapers). They are also the interlocutors of consular chambers and associations.

The UDPAs work together to ensure that heritage and architectural quality are taken into account in spatial planning policies that are closely linked to the new challenges of sustainable development. State officials, UDAP agents work in close liaison with other State services involved in the living environment.