A request to designate the Palais du Midi in Brussels as a protected heritage site has been declared void, paving the way for the building’s partial demolition as part of the construction of the future Metro Line 3.
Urban.brussels, the Brussels urban planning authority, is now expected to issue the requested permit to the Stib (Brussels public transport operator) in the coming days, allowing the dismantling of the building’s interior. The 165-metre-long structure, located near Brussels-Midi railway station, has been central to debates about preservation versus urban development.
Despite this setback, the non-profit organisation Arau, which initially sought heritage status for the building in July 2023, has filed a new request to protect it.
The failure of the original application was attributed to a lack of decision from the Brussels government, which is currently handling only routine business. The government missed Wednesday’s deadline to determine whether to initiate the classification process, as internal disagreements prevented a consensus.
However, the issuance of the permit does not guarantee the immediate dismantling of the Palais du Midi. A spokesperson for Ans Persoons, State Secretary for Heritage (Vooruit), stressed that the final decision lies with both the Stib and the Brussels government.
Elke Van den Brandt, Minister for Mobility (Groen), confirmed that the government reached an agreement in mid-July instructing the Stib to refrain from undertaking any irreversible work. This pause will remain in effect during the two-month window for filing suspensive appeals against the permit.
The impasse reflects the growing tension between preserving cultural heritage and meeting the city’s evolving public transport needs.
