The Council of State agrees with the mayor of Paris and judges that dark shops are “warehouses”

The mayor of Paris wins his showdown against express delivery companies Frichti and Gorillas. The Council of State ruled on Thursday that the “dark shops” were “warehouses” within the meaning of the Parisian urban code and local urban plan, agreeing with the Paris city council.

These express delivery companies, which had won a first legal battle in October 2022, “had to file a declaration with the city council to use premises that were originally traditional businesses as” dark shops “, ruled France’s highest court.

But this activity is criticized by many elected officials around the world, who denounce the disorder, the arrival of “warehouse cities”, the inconvenience for neighbors due to the coming and going of scooters and delivery people, even the “lazy economy”.

“Victory!”

The mayor of Paris had turned against several dark shops installed in premises that previously housed traditional businesses, accusing them of not having declared their activity as warehouses. Minutes were drawn up.

Frichti and Gorilas disputed and won a first legal battle in October 2022.

Following the announcement of the Council of State’s decision, the town planning deputy of PS Mayor Anne Hidalgo, Emmanuel Grégoire, shouted “Victory!” On twitter.

In October, the administrative court had suspended by summary proceedings nine reports of infringement of the urban code issued by the Paris city council, recognizing them as of “collective interest” because they allow “optimizing time and manner in urban areas”. of delivery” and therefore “reduce truck traffic and the number of delivery points inside Paris”.

The Council of State considered this Thursday that “an unauthorized change of activity” had indeed occurred, and annulled the suspension of the dispatch judge.

“These premises store merchandise to deliver quickly to customers and are no longer intended for direct sale within the meaning of the urban planning code,” he said. They do not fall into the category “constructions and installations necessary for public services or of collective interest” in the PLU of Paris, ”he continued.