Bruges (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Urban Depot project in Assebroek, Bruges, is delayed due to soil pollution, rising costs, and a denied permit from West Flanders. Alderman Franky Demon and Mathis Goderis emphasize the need for a comprehensive outdoor plan. The opening date is unclear.
According to authorities, the Urban Depot project in Assebroek, Bruges, has faced many problems. Five years ago, the city bought the old De Lijn bus depot. Authorities wanted to turn it into a park and a sports centre for activities like freerunning. However, soil pollution was found on the site, requiring extensive cleanup, which took time and money.
According to authorities, renovating old buildings also costs more than expected. This put pressure on the city’s budget and caused delays. Some residents are against the project because of pollution and traffic nuisance.
Is the Urban Depot sports site in Bruges facing permanent delays?
The province of West Flanders has denied the permit, causing more delays. Despite this, Bruges city officials still want to move forward. Sports Alderman Franky Demon says that residents should not be worried about noise and that the city will keep supporting the project. He mentioned that money is a big issue, though. The costs for extra insulation need approval from the next city council.
The group vzw Basics, which manages the site, is upset about the cleanup. Ben Vandenbussche from vzw Basics said they need a clear budget and timeline before they can continue. The project was supposed to open in the summer of 2024, but now its future is uncertain.
The provincial government looked into these complaints and turned down most of them. They said the project would not cause big problems with noise or traffic. But they found one big issue. The city did not have a clear plan for the outdoor areas around the project. According to the city rules, Bruges needed a separate permit for changes. Since this plan was missing, the provincial government could not approve the permit. This has caused more delays for the project.
Mathis Goderis, the Alderman for Spatial Planning, confirmed the province’s decision. He said the city cannot treat the sports centre and the outdoor areas as separate projects. All parts of a development project must be planned together.
Mathis mentioned that Bruges has to change its permit application. They need to include a complete plan for the outdoor areas before moving forward. The opening date has already been delayed, and this new problem makes it unclear when the Urban Depot will be built.
The province has ruled that we cannot view both files separately. That is why the environmental permit was refused,
confirms Mathis Goderis (Vooruit).
Bruges can still appeal the refusal of the environmental permit to the Council for Permit Disputes. However, Alderman Mathis Goderis thinks this may not be the best option. He suggests that the city should submit a new application that addresses the concerns of the provincial government.
Mathis Goderis believes that this new plan should include changes to the warehouses for urban sports and outdoor areas. By doing this, Bruges can meet all legal requirements in one request. He mentioned that this approach could help avoid more delays and improve the chances of getting approval for the Urban Depot project.
If we continue with this, it would be more logical to submit a new application in which we meet the objections.
Alderman Mathis
Bruges is not sure if it will apply again for the Urban Depot project. The city does not want to give up, but Alderman Goderis says it is very complicated. There are many problems, like rising costs for repairs, and the need for environmental cleanup, and some people in the community do not support it. He mentioned that even though getting a permit is still possible, the city needs to think about these issues carefully. For now, the future of the Urban Depot project is unclear.
There are the increased costs, there is the remediation and there is still the neighborhood protest. Although a permit still seems possible, we must take that signal to heart. We will consider the future of this dossier.
Alderman Mathis Say.
