A new city park has opened in Brussels, close to the Brussels-Charleroi Canal.
citydev.brussels inaugurated the new SME park on Friday (12 December) in the presence of Anderlecht Mayor Fabrice Cumps.
The park, comprising 10 production workshops and named CanalCity due to its proximity to the canal, is located within a large mixed-use development by Deleers Residentieel, a collaboration between the private real estate developer Kairos and Federale Assurance.
In its 2021-2025 management contract, citydev.brussels committed to offering businesses 10 SME parks in the Brussels region. So, with CanalCity, the institution is delivering its ninth park. The tenth, Copernic in Haren, will be inaugurated in January.
In spring 2024, citydev.brussels reached an agreement with the private developer Kairos to acquire the new SME business park for €14,273,700.
Consultations then took place so that citydev.brussels could share its expertise with Kairos, as the SME business park was to be located beneath a primary school, a secondary school, and a daycare center.
The institution had already gained experience in this area with its NovaCity and CityCampus parks, also located in Anderlecht.
The CanalCity business park, developed by BAM Interbuild, covers an area of 6,000 m² and includes 10 production workshops ranging from 350 to 800 m², 26 parking spaces, and 60 bicycle parking spaces.
citydev.brussels will manage the SME business park and lease the spaces according to its usual terms and conditions.
Comment came from Barbara Trachte, State Secretary for Economic Transition.
Speaking on Friday, she said,
“Supporting SMEs and sustainably integrating productive activities into the urban fabric is one of the priority objectives of Brussels’ economic transition.”
“Doubling the number of SME parks was our goal at the start of this legislative term. Congratulations to citydev.brussels and all the stakeholders who made this possible.”
For the mayor of Anderlecht, Fabrice Cumps, CanalCity is the
“perfect illustration of the model we wish to implement in the new neighborhoods being developed in the municipality, particularly along the canal.”
Cumps added,
“The complex that houses CanalCity includes, in addition to the SME park that we are inaugurating today, accessible housing, a daycare center, a primary school and a secondary school. The mix of functions is at the heart of this urban project.”
