Brussels City Council on Monday night adopted a new municipal sustainable development plan, updating the previous one, which dates back to 2004.
According to Anaïs Maes (Vooruit), the city’s councillor for Urban Planning, the new strategic blueprint seeks to address contemporary and future urban challenges for the city by the year 2050. The final version of the plan incorporated feedback gathered during a public enquiry.
Ms Maes noted that the plan recognises the unique character of each district in Brussels. It entrenches the concept of the ‘Ten-Minute City,’ aiming to make essential urban services accessible to all Brussels residents within a ten-minute timeframe.
The plan elaborates on seven aspirations that span a wide array of subjects, such as combating heat islands, increasing housing diversity, addressing empty properties, and protecting and smartly repurposing nightlife venues.
In addition, the plan also earmarks seven priority intervention areas dispersed throughout the city. These strategic zones are places where multiple objectives coincide and will be prioritised by 2030. Overall, the plan lays out 46 strategic objectives, 39 quantifiable targets, and 146 actions.
Particular emphasis has been placed on monitoring and tracking the initiatives. Every city department is involved.
Residents were consulted many times throughout the plan’s formulation. Initially, they were asked about life in their neighbourhoods and the top priority ambitions to pursue. The notions of ‘close-knit city’ and ‘breathable city’ emerged as key ambitions.
Subsequently, tours (including virtual ones) were organised in each district with key individuals from those areas. A public enquiry was also held at the end of last year.
