BRUSSELS (Brussels Morning) – To enable the construction of the large Neo shopping centre, the Regional Zoning Plan (GBP) for the Heysel plain has to be adapted. The public inquiry started Friday and is expected to run until the 2nd day of May. This is the fourth time that the Region has made these attempts to change the plan.
The area is coloured in the current plan as intended for ‘collective equipment’, but the adaptation would also allow trade and housing on the site. This means that the Neo 1 construction project could arise there. This is a project with 590 homes, an amusement park, recreation and a shopping centre of 72,000 square metres.
In the previous three attempts to change the GBP, the Brussels Region was repeatedly called back by the Council of State. This happened in the years 2015, 2017 and 2020. The biggest stumbling block for the Council was the mobility problem. The shopping centre would cause too much traffic nuisance in the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Connecting road
The City and Region are making sure that these problems have now been resolved. It mainly relies on the connecting road between the Ring that runs around Brussels and Neo. The dual carriageway has already been completed in Brussels, but the licensing of the Flemish part of it is still pending.
However, in contrast to the previous attempt to change the GBP, there now appears to be a political deal with Flanders about that link. Moreover, the same Council of State recently issued a ruling in favour of this connecting road.
The opponents, however, do not believe in the possibility of good mobility solutions. They argue in favour of scrapping the shopping centre altogether. The plans are also causing controversy within the government of Brussels.
Citizens and associations can give their opinion on the change of destination to the Brussels planning office Perspective.brussels until the 2nd of May.
Image via BRUZZ