Stade Bollaert-Delelis ready by late December

Recent technical problems have done nothing to dent the optimism of those responsible for the renovation of the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, due to officially open in December.

The authorities in the northern French city have also pressed ahead with the first preparations for a fan zone outside the city hall, and are planning festivities to mark one year to go before UEFA EURO 2016.

The spring sun has been shining on the Stade Bollaert-Delelis rebuilding work in recent days. The highest points of the new-look stadium in Lens can now be seen from the four corners of the former mining region. The recent problems encountered by the technical teams, notably affecting the assembly of one part of the metallic superstructure designed to support the roof, went by almost unnoticed.

"It's true – we had a small problem with the voltage in a cable," was the message from those in charge of the building site. "We commissioned some additional surveying work." Could this alter the scheduled full handover date of December 2015? "No," came the emphatic reply from site management.

The only slight delay will be in handing over the keys to the club who occupy the stadium, RC Lens, in July. In any case, it had already been decided that the ground would be just partially reopened to the public this summer. The refurbishment work on the hospitality area in the extension of the Lepagnot stand will not be completed until September.

As far as the pitch is concerned, things are also starting to happen: the regional council – which is managing the entire refit – has already guaranteed that the playing surface will conform fully with UEFA guidelines, as required to host matches at UEFA EURO 2016.

Finally, Lens city council has not been resting on its laurels either. Place Jean Jaurès, in front of the city hall, which will be home to a fan zone throughout the tournament, has been partly renovated. The city authorities have also made progress in organising a 'one year to go' countdown to the finals. Activities are arranged for 11 and 12 June – exactly 12 months until the first UEFA EURO 2016 action in Lens – involving young schoolchildren from the city.

An artist's impression of how the stadium will look following the rebuilding programme©Cabinet Cardete & Huet et Atelier Pierre Ferret