Brussels football club Union Saint-Gilloise has received the go-ahead from environmental authorities to cut down 237 trees to make space for the future stadium in Forest.
With the authorisation of Brussels Environment, the Brussels side has been given an exemption from a nature conservation order which will allow them to remove trees and the natural habitat of many protected bird species, reports La Derniere Heure (DH).
It marks a major milestone in the new stadium project, even if it does not constitute a green light for the whole project.
Both the club and the Forest authorities have been locked in a bitter dispute about the new ground, which will be built on the Bempt sporting complex site in Forest.
The planning and environmental permit applications submitted by Union are still being examined. The dossier is even considered incomplete at this stage.
An ecological report commissioned by the Brussels football club identified 19 protected bird species on the site, as well as three protected bat species.
Brussels Environment estimated that the work would cause visual and noise disturbance to these species, the destruction of nesting sites and resting areas, and the disappearance of wasteland favourable to local biodiversity.
The administration granted the environmental exemption despite these findings, citing "imperative reasons of major public interest", in particular "the social and economic" dimension of the project.
Union's supporters pictured at the start of a match between Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and Standard de Liege, Saturday 16 August 2025 in Brussels. Credit: Belga / Bruno Fahy
"The granting of this exemption does not prejudge the granting of the environmental permit," the administration states. It points out that the decision relates solely to the conservation status of the species present on the site and not to the project as a whole.
However, Union Saint-Gilloise will need to follow strict conditions to limit and offset the ecological impact granted in the exemption.
In return for felling trees, the club will have to plant 239 replacement of different species and transplant 30 additional trees in similar environmental conditions.
Moreover, the trees may only be felled during a window between 1 September and 28 February 2026 to respect nesting and breeding periods.
Lighting & Champions League
Some of the wood from the felling will have to be reused on site to create wildlife refuges, while nesting boxes must be installed for various species of birds and bats, as well as artificial shelters, hedgehog shelters and a plan for more green spaces favourable to local wildlife.
Lighting will also have to be banned between 23:00 and 05:00, which could create issues for Union Saint Gilloise’s hopes to be playing on the European stage, as UEFA competitions are midweek at either 19:00 or 21:00. Light sources must not exceed a certain temperature in order to reduce light pollution on nocturnal wildlife.
The fact that the Union submitted such a request during the procedure is seen as a positive sign by the administration. "This shows that the club is aware of the presence of protected species and is trying to respond to this," explains Brussels Environment.
The exemption is granted for a period from 1 January 2026 to 30 September 2030 and remains subject to strict monitoring by Brussels Environment. The club will have to provide a detailed report on the implementation of these measures.
Importantly, the exemption will only be valid once the planning and environmental permits have been obtained and the land has been officially transferred to the club. Discussions between municipality of Forest and Union are currently at a standstill. They are waiting for the permits to be issued before concluding an agreement.
