Zottegem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Zottegem plans to redevelop Heldenlaan in 2026, combining urgent sewer work with street renovation. Alderman Marnic De Clercq emphasises resident input, preserving trees, and creating a lasting, modern shopping street.
As VRT News reported, Zottegem, in the province of East Flanders, Belgium, will unveil a new plan next year to redevelop Heldenlaan, the main shopping street in the city centre. For several years, the city has had renovation plans for the street, and still, nothing has happened.
Alderman of Positief, Marnic De Clercq, said there will be a different approach.
“There is urgent work that needs to be done, such as installing new sewers,”
he said.
“At the same time, we want to renovate the street. Before starting, we want to know exactly what residents want.”
How will Zottegem redevelop Heldenlaan with residents in 2025?
The city is also focusing on the stories and memories of residents linked to Heldenlaan. De Clercq said these stories are important to understand what residents value.
“By looking back at residents’ experiences, we learn what matters most to them,”
he said. The city will also ask how people see the street’s future.
“We will explore the past but also the future.”
Alderman Marnic de Clercq
“We are convinced that with everyone’s contributions, we can develop a great plan,”
Alderman Marnic De Clercq said.
“At the same time, we will have to make choices, because it is impossible to please everyone. These choices also need to be future-oriented. The redevelopment should last far longer than five years, so every decision must be carefully considered.”
The alderman said the goal is to balance the needs of today with long-term solutions that will make Heldenlaan a sustainable and attractive street for years to come.
Residents will be actively involved in the process. Flyers will be distributed, and city staff will approach people directly to gather opinions and ideas. The city is already collecting stories and reviewing all points raised by the community.
“Only when we have everything can we create a plan and then hope that everyone agrees with it. That won’t be easy, but next year we’ll have a plan and be able to move forward,”
the alderman adds.
Plans to renovate Heldenlaan in Zottegem have been discussed for a few years, but no work has been done to date. Initial proposals were made in 2018 when the city was looking at ways to improve both the infrastructure and visual appearance of the street, including improvements to the pavements, new modern lights, and retaining the well-known line of trees that set this street apart.
In 2021, studies showed that the ageing sewers needed replacement and that drainage issues had to be addressed. The latest initiative, announced in 2025, seeks to combine these essential infrastructure works with a full redevelopment.
