Aalst (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Antwerp developer Cores filed an appeal after Aalst blocked 93-apartment plans. Alderman Maarten Blommaert urges talks with residents of Kluisdreef, who filed 348 objections, over traffic and environment concerns.
As VRT News reported, Antwerp developer Cores has filed an appeal against the city of Aalst. The city blocked plans to build 93 new apartments. Cores has now turned to the provincial government for help. The company hopes the higher authority will overturn the city’s decision.
The province will examine both the road and environmental permits. It will decide if the city acted correctly or if the project can continue. Experts say the case could affect future residential developments in Aalst and nearby towns.
What will Aalst decide on Cores’ 93-apartment project and resident objections?
The construction plans by developer Cores have caused strong concern among residents of Kluisdreef. A total of 348 residents filed objections against the building permit application. The project includes 4 building blocks, each up to 8 stories high, with a total of 93 apartments.
Residents fear that this development could lead to even more construction in the area. The land could eventually accommodate up to 1,600 homes. Many locals worry about the impact on traffic, daily life, and infrastructure.
To address the concerns, Alderman for Urban Development Maarten Blommaert (N-VA) is calling for consultation with the developer and the community. Blommaert notes that the Spatial Implementation Plan officially lists the land as suitable for construction. He said,
“We need to work with the developer and the neighbourhood to create a project that everyone can support. It must be on a scale that the community can accept.”
At the end of June 2025, the city council decided not to allow the roads needed for the project. Officials said the proposed roads did not meet the city’s rules and could cause traffic and safety problems for nearby residents.
Shortly after, the council also refused the environmental permit. They pointed to possible effects on local nature and the environment. These 2 refusals have stopped the project. Cores says the plans meet all legal and technical requirements. The decision has raised questions about the availability of housing in Aalst.
The Kluisdreef area has been marked for housing since 2010 under Aalst’s Spatial Implementation Plan. In 2015, a nearby apartment project was reduced after over 200 residents objected to the building height and traffic concerns.
Another plan in 2018 for 75 apartments was delayed because of environmental issues and protests before being approved at a smaller scale. In 2021, high-rise apartment proposals in the city centre caused debate over parking and infrastructure.
