Roeselare (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Zorggroep Heilig Hart will build 20 care studios on the former Heilig-Hart Hospital site in Roeselare for people with motor disabilities. Construction ends in 2028, led by director Dave Dewachtere.
As VRT News reported, a new care residence with 20 studios will be built on the site of the former Heilig-Hart Hospital in Roeselare. The project is designed for people with motor disabilities who need accessible housing and permanent care. Nursing staff will be available at all hours to provide medical support when needed.
The building will also include rooms for physiotherapy, rehabilitation and shared dining areas. Zorggroep Heilig Hart is leading the project and says it will close a long-standing gap in the city’s care services.
What will the Former Heilig-Hart site in Roeselare become with 20 new care studios?
Director Dave Dewachtere of Zorggroep Heilig Hart explained that the introduction of the personal budget system allowed people to decide how and where they receive care. This change has led to a greater demand for flexible housing options that combine independence with 24-hour medical assistance. Until now, Roeselare has not had such a facility.
The project will be closely connected to the city and not separated from its surroundings. The site will include private apartments, a residential care hotel and assisted-living units. The 20 care studios will cover more than 2,300 square metres and include shared rooms for therapy.
“We want to connect, regardless of generation or vulnerability,”
Dewachtere explains.
“People like you and me, the elderly, people with acquired brain injury: we can find each other.”
Construction will move forward in stages, and the first residents are expected to move in by 2028. In the meantime, the city and Zorggroep Heilig Hart will continue planning, finalise permits and prepare partnerships with local health and education services to ensure the site is ready for long-term operation.
The redevelopment project for the site of the former Heilig-Hart Hospital in Roeselare began after the closure of the hospital in 2018, leaving a large vacant area at the edge of the city centre. In 2022, the city approved the plan for the master plan called “’t Groen Hart,” which integrates housing, green space, and care services on the historic location.
In 2023, the demolition of the former hospital occurred, during which safely debris was processed safely and asbestos was eliminated. Beginning in 2024, the site enabled construction on the first of the new homes, with additional phases through 2026.
