3. Conclusion

The sale or acquisition of an industrial site involves a complex set of negotiations in which the environmental dimension is only one component. From this point of view, environmental aspects are ultimately reflected in contracts in the form of work commitments or guarantee clauses, which are often fairly standard but can be much more elaborate.

While the strategic interest of a site or industrial activity may have led some purchasers to attach only limited importance to negotiating the sharing of environmental risks and responsibilities, increased vigilance in this area is now the order of the day. The use of environmental audits has grown to the point where it is now almost systematic, particularly for public bodies wishing to promote the redevelopment of former industrial sites.

This development can be explained not only by the increasingly...