Belgian chemical company Solvay is set to leave its headquarters in the Neder-over-Heembeek (north of Brussels), RTBF reports. The company celebrates its 160th anniversary this year and will relocate to the Brussels municipality of Haren, close to the NATO building.
Solvay is ready to purchase the site of the Belgian manufacturing and research company Deltatech on Rue de la Fusée. In a message to staff, Solvay’s management indicated that this decision was driven by economic and practical considerations.
“The installation investment is less than one-fifth of what it would take to modernise the Solvay Campus, and the subsequent operation costs will be one-third of those in Neder-over-Heembeek,” the message said. Solvay’s current headquarters covers an area of 23 hectares.
The new Haren site will be even larger. Deltatech’s Haren site, once renovated by Solvay, will feature modular spaces, meeting rooms, staff facilities, sports areas, a creche, and more.
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Unfortunately for the company’s workers, not all employees will get to see Solvay’s new headquarters. Following an internal review in January 2021, Solvay announced that it will cut nearly 10% of jobs at its Neder-over-Heembeek site. Solvay’s management describes the move to its new site as “an exceptional opportunity.”
According to RTBF, Solvay is scheduled to move to its new headquarters between April 2023 and March 2024. The fate of its current headquarters is still undecided.