Usquare.brussels

Summary

In 2018, the Brussels-Capital Region purchased a former military barracks from the Belgian Federal State in order to convert the site into a new district combining heritage buildings, sustainable development,  circular economy and knowledge.  Usquare.brussels will be an open and diverse space for 21st century living. While not a student campus, it is a future district of the city that will be diverse and dynamic, urban and welcoming, sustainable and innovative and centered around the universities.

The project will promote heritage,  develop family and student housing, provide welcoming and attractive public spaces, create local facilities for residents of neighbouring districts,  accommodate a sustainable food court and develop a pioneering project in partnership with the Université libre de Bruxelles and Vrij Universiteit Brussels (VUB-ULB) for  research, knowledge dissemination and sharing, international collaboration, and  entrepreneurship and innovation. Certain elements of which are supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Background and Objectives

Launched in July 2014, the Brussels government policy statement for 2014-2019 marked the  barracks site of Ixelles for potential development as an international student city.

In 2016, the Brussels-Capital Region commissioned a feasibility study for the conversion of the barracks by the MSA-IDEA consultancy firm. This study evaluated the maximum development potential of a mixed-usage site which the government approved. The selected scenario proposed a mixed usage space with student housing as the central focus of the development and the fringes to be populated by new residential developments.

The Brussels-Capital Region bought the site in early 2018. The last occupied buildings will become available in early 2019.

Simultaneously, a partnership between the VUB-ULB universities applied for and received funding from the European and Regional funding (ERDF Operational Program 2014-2020) to develop a joint project. The current ERDF project proposes a university centre dedicated to sustainable development and public awareness activities, fundamental and participative research on the theme of sustainable development, and eco-responsible consumption. This will help foster the creation of local non-relocatable jobs and the development of Brussels ‘start-ups’. Additionally, the Regional Plan for Sustainable Development (PRDD) approved by the Brussels government in July 2018 recognizes this site as a priority development zone for the region.

The barracks site will be converted into a new district with:

• 600 housing offers for international students,
• 200 affordable housing offers
• a residence for university researchers
• a student services counter
• a fab-lab/incubator for young entrepreneurs
• an inter-university research cluster for sustainable development
• an interpretation centre presenting university research on sustainability
• neighbourhood facilities
• a cultural centre

Implementation

Brussels-Capital Region will develop the vision for the 385 hectare site and will maintain responsibility for financing and supervising its conversion. Europe will co-finance the establishment of an inter-university cluster for sustainable development (ERDF program 2014-2020).

Brussels-Capital Region has undertaken to implement a new resilient planning approach by linking two new regional tools:

• Spatial planning tool called PAD (Plan d’Amenagement Director / Master Development Plan). This tool combines regulatory and strategic components. It is a flexible planning tool that can evolve over time and accommodate new uses and needs of residents, citizens and the universities. PAD has been developed by BUUR.
• Circular Economy tool called PREC (Plan Regional d’Economy Circulaire- Regional Plan for Circular Economy). This tool has received two European awards for innovation by combining sectoral and territorial actions in order to implement this new economic model.

The Master Development Plan (PAD) defines the schedule, construction and design of roads and public spaces, heritage protection, and mobility and parking.

The Barracks master plan must adhere to certain procedural steps.

• Project design and environmental impact studies.
• Public consultation.
• Approval by the regional government of first draft of the plan.
• Recommendation of the Regional Development Commission (government consultative body).
• Approval of second draft of the plan by the government, including any modifications following public consultation and the recommendation of official bodies including the Regional Development Commission.
• Submission of the project to the Council of State to ensure it complies with legal regulations.
• Approval of the third draft by the government.

Once the master plan is approved, the implementation of the various components of Usquare can begin, provided the necessary building permits have been obtained. The draft master plan has been presented to citizens living around the location during 3 public meetings.

The proposed timeline is as follows

By 2023:	restoration and development of buildings that will house the universities and shared facilities.
From 2023:	gradual development of public spaces on the site.
By 2025:	renovation and construction work to accommodate student and family housing, as well as local facilities.

Financing and Resources

The lead agency for the project is the Brussels-Capital Region Region in partnership with

• Perspective.brussels – The Brussels Planning Agency
• Société d’aménagement urbain (SAU-MSI) – The Brussels Urban Development Corporation
• Université libre de Bruxelles – The French-speaking free University of Brussels
• Vrij Universiteit Brussels – The Dutch-speaking free University of Brussels
• Europe through European Regional Development Funds

This project is the result of two proactive initiatives.

• Universities: ULB (Université Libre de Bruxelles) and VUB (Vrij Universiteit Brussel) will become more integrated in the city and provide benefits for citizens and students and establish a new academic centre of international importance.
• Brussels-Capital Region: will meet the needs of its citizens in terms of housing, social facilities and quality of life, while reinforcing its national and international status: Belgium’s largest student city, leading university hub in Europe, national capital and international metropolis, a crossroads of cultures amid a plethora of initiatives in collective intelligence, research and innovation. The Regional Government believes that promoting these assets will increase the integration of the student population in the urban fabric of the city  and encourage positive initiatives in the region that will be beneficial to its development and the citizens of Brussels.

    

For more details: http://Usquare.brussels/en

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