Zaventem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The RvVb rejected appeals by 1932Works.be and Sterrebeek2000, supported by Zaventem and Kraainem. MG Real Estate may build a 30 m, 100-dock warehouse; Wim De Poorter confirmed the final decision.
As VRT News reported, the Council for Permit Disputes (RvVb) has rejected the appeal by citizen groups 1932Works.be and Sterrebeek2000. The appeal had support from the municipalities of Zaventem and Kraainem.
The groups opposed a major project by developer MG Real Estate. The plan includes a huge building the size of 6 IKEA stores and a height of 30 meters. It will have about 100 loading docks across 2 levels. Activists warn the project could cause up to 1,000 truck movements every day.
“The intersection of Woluwelaan and Grote Kloosterstraat cannot possibly handle 1,000 additional 40-ton trucks per day,”
the action group states.
What will happen to MG Real Estate’s 30 m warehouse in Zaventem after RvVb rejects Aappeal?
Engineers working with the groups also say the developer’s traffic studies are not realistic. The simulations assume trucks accelerate extremely fast, almost like electric sports cars. MG Real Estate already holds 2 valid permits for the site. Earlier, when approval for the large project seemed uncertain, the developer proposed a smaller plan.
The alternative was a single-story building that is still 17 meters tall. It would generate about 450 truck movements per day, less than half of the current plan. Despite this smaller option, the RvVb decision allows the developer to continue with the bigger project. Residents and action groups remain concerned about the effects on their daily lives.
After the Council for Permit Disputes (RvVb) rejected the appeal against the larger project, MG Real Estate faces a key decision. The developer can choose to continue with the full-scale building, which has faced strong opposition because of its size and possible environmental effects.
Alternatively, it can go with the smaller version, which already has a tenant lined up. The larger plan has now received final approval. However, it also brings risks, including public criticism and ongoing concern from residents and activist groups.
“We have resolutely decided to only build single- story buildings and to forgo the double- story variant,”
according to De Poorer,
“The concerns and opposition from the neighbourhood have been clearly heard. As a self-respecting company, we will adhere to the agreements made.”
Wim De Poorter, representing MG Real Estate, confirmed that the Rvb’s decision is final. Despite this setback, the citizen group 1932Works.be is not abandoning its efforts. They are considering whether to take the case to the Council of State, Belgium’s top administrative court.
The group fears the ruling could set a dangerous precedent, including limits on carbon monoxide and nitrogen emissions. 1932Works.be has said it will only decide on further legal steps once MG Real Estate clearly announces which project it will pursue.
The dispute regarding the logistics project of MG Real-Estate in Sint-Stevens-Woluwe, located in Zaventem, began in 2023 when residents along with action groups named 1932Works.be and Sterrebeek2000 raised objections against the submission of plans for a 105,000 m2 warehouse that involves 96 loading docks with a height of 30 meters, and raised concerns about traffic, noise, and environmental impacts to the Woluwe Valley.
In March 2024, the Province of Flemish-Brabant denied MG Real-Estate’s application. However, MG-RealeState resubmitted the application in 2024 with revisions and obtained approval for the project by the Flemish Government, which had overturned the denial after appeal in October 2024. During the period of 2024 and 2025, hundreds of objections were submitted by the residents, and the case had been taken before the Council for Permit Disputes (Raad voor Vergunningsbetwistingen) several times.
