The former NATO site is getting a new use. It will house the new defence headquarters, but will also be transformed into a residential area with a large landscape park.
The draft Direction Plan of Construction (RPA) Defence, which lays out the redevelopment of the 90-hectare site, currently in the hands of the Defence Ministry, was approved by the Brussels Council of Ministers on Thursday. The vast space is located partly in the Brussels Region (municipalities of Evere and Brussels City) and partly in the Flemish Region (municipality of Zaventem).
On the other side of the large Boulevard Leopold III lies the new headquarters which opened in 2018, resulting in the former building being cleared. It now houses the trial for the 2016 terrorist attacks, while a temporary European school is also located on the site.
An aerial view of the site as it currently stands, with the new NATO site right at the top, and the old location below, divided by the busy Avenue Leopold III. Credit: perspective.brussels
The Defence Ministry several years ago confirmed its intention to erect its new headquarters on this busy road. Both regions agreed this would provide an opportunity to completely re-develop the site by connecting 200 ha of existing open spaces (including the cemeteries of Brussels, Evere and Schaerbeek, the southern part of the La Défense site and the Woluweveld), and to open it up to the public.
'Green lung'
The project envisages that after the redevelopment, the site will not only be home to the new Defence headquarters but also a metropolitan landscape park of more than 45 hectares, 15 of which will be on Brussels territory.
"With their coordinated approach to more than 200 hectares of contiguous open spaces, both regions are laying the foundations for the creation of a unique green lung in the north-east of the capital," Brussels Minister-President Rudi Vervoort said.
"The future wooded area will be developed in an ecological way and accessible to local residents, walkers and cyclists." New connections between the Green Walk and the cycle-GEN routes will also be made to further encourage the use of active mobility here.
The plans further include the addition of a "mixed-use district" along Boulevard Leopold III, which will include housing, 150,000 m² will be set aside for economic activities and 50,000 m² for facilities, services, shops and catering. The aim is to strengthen the economic dynamism in this area, which is strategically located near the country's biggest airport.
Related News
- What will Schuman look like after the long-awaited redevelopment?
- Place Royale: Chaotic roundabout in city centre to become large urban square
According to Vervoort, this design "strikes a perfect balance between restoring nature to this area and revitalising this urban access by developing a new sustainable urban district."
This autumn, the draft RPA will be subject to public review alongside the draft GRUP (Regional Spatial Implementation Plan) on the Flemish side, which was approved at first reading by the Flemish government on 14 July. The documents will be available on the perspective.brussels website and at municipal offices.
