Brussels North Station will not be listed as protected heritage, the Brussels regional government decided on Thursday. Instead, the station will be added to the so-called "safeguard list" – a second, less strict form of protection.
Protection or classification as a monument is not suitable for a station that must be able to "evolve" over time, the office of Brussels Minister Sven Gatz (who has taken over Urban Planning since the departure of State Secretary Pascal Smet) told Bruzz.
The North Station will certainly not change its destination, but the building must remain adaptable to meet the necessary technical requirements in the future, which is easier if the building is not classified as heritage.
More flexibility
There are two types of ways to protect heritage: by officially classifying the building as protected heritage, or by registration on the "safeguard list." The criteria for both forms of protection are laid down in the Brussels Spatial Planning Code.
While it is mandatory to maintain the building in good condition for both classifications, having something as protected heritage in most cases means that it is prohibited to demolish (part of) it, or use it in a way that affects the heritage value. The use of the "safeguard list" for this type of building offers more flexibility.
Previously, the Royal Commission for Monuments and Landscapes (KCML) advised to protect parts of the Brussels North train station as monuments, requesting special protection of the exterior of the building, the clock tower and the wooden benches, as well as the platforms, roofs and original elements.
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In practice, the inclusion on the safeguard list means that the currently existing condition must be preserved as much as possible and that the owner of the station can count on guidance and advice from the Region's technical services.
With the addition of Brussels North station, three Brussels stations will soon be on the safeguard list. In addition to North Station, Central Station and Congress Station were also added to the list in 1995.
