A planned Leroy Merlin store in Saintes, France is facing uncertainty after teh national commercial development commission (CNAC) rejected the project on November 13, 2025, due to exceeding retail space limitations. The dispute centers on a miscalculation of square footage,specifically the inclusion of the store’s drive-through pickup area,despite prior approval from local authorities. This decision impacts a substantial investment already underway, with construction completed and staff hired, and highlights ongoing tensions between large retailers and existing businesses within the region. Leroy Merlin is now considering it’s options, including potential revisions, appeals, or abandonment of the project.
Leroy Merlin’s plans for a new store in Saintes, France, have hit a snag after being rejected by the national commercial development commission (CNAC) on November 13, 2025. The commission determined the project did not meet required retail space limitations, specifically exceeding the 10,000 square meter threshold for the zone.
The area already hosts established retailers such as Foir’Fouille (3,640 square meters) and Bureau Vallée (689 square meters), intensifying competition for retail space. The decision underscores the challenges facing large retailers seeking expansion in densely populated commercial areas.
Miscalculation in Square Footage
According to sources, Leroy Merlin mistakenly excluded its direct purchase pickup area – the “drive” – from its total sales area calculation. The unfavorable opinion from the CNAC specifically references a dossier titled “Creation Leroy Merlin + drive (4,898 m2)”. This oversight occurred despite the local departmental commercial development commission (CDAC) unanimously approving the project on August 18, 2025, presided over by the sub-prefect of Saint-Jean-d’Angély.
Leroy Merlin took the risk of beginning construction and hiring staff despite a 2023 objection from competitors Mr.Bricolage and Bricomarché. The company believed it had addressed concerns by reducing its planned sales area from 5,300 square meters to 4,898 square meters, bringing the total to 9,999 square meters – just under the 10,000 square meter limit. In addition to the internal redesign, Leroy Merlin also reworked parking areas and outdoor spaces to minimize soil impermeability, in accordance with the Resilience and Climate Law.
Potential Next Steps
Following a week of public mobilization and statements from Saintes Mayor Bruno Drapron and Socialist Member of Parliament Fabrice Barusseau, Leroy Merlin has several options. The company could revise its project and resubmit it to the CDAC, or it could appeal the CNAC’s decision. Alternatively, it could abandon the project altogether.
However, abandoning the project now seems unlikely given the completed construction, stocked shelves, and strong local support the company has received, with only a few dissenting voices. The timeline for resolution and the salaries the company has been paying employees for six months without generating revenue remain key concerns, as does the persistence of its competitors. The CNAC has been involved with this Leroy Merlin project on three separate occasions (January 21, 2021, February 23, 2023, and April 13, 2025).
Leroy Merlin’s communication department stated on Friday evening, November 21, that it would issue a statement once it receives the official, motivated opinion from the CNAC.
