The long-awaited works to redevelop the hectic, car-heavy Schuman roundabout in the Brussels' European Quarter are expected to start soon now that the final permit for the process has been delivered.
The city planning administration urban.brussels on Tuesday issued the necessary permit for the reconstruction of the Schuman roundabout, Brussels Secretary of State for Town Planning and Heritage Ans Persoons confirmed. City planners hope the works will transform the roundabout, currently dominated by cars and unsafe for vulnerable road users, into "a real town square".
"Place Schuman was a roundabout tailored to cars. Now there will finally be a square for everyone in the heart of the European district," Persoons stated.
The roundabout at the foot of the European institutions will be redesigned by Danish architectural firm COBE and Brussels-based BRUT, which have paid attention to making the space greener, and safer for cyclists.
Credit: Ans Persoons Cabinet/ COBE + BRUT
Persoons stressed the "ambition to see cities as real living and meeting spaces", adding that the changes should affirm Brussels' status as a forward-thinking European capital.
A large pedestrian zone will soon encircle the roundabout with traffic reduced to one lane, rather than three. The recovered space will be reserved for pedestrians and cyclists, for whom a safer and more visible cycle path will be added around the roundabout and on both sides of Rue de la Loi.
At the centre of the roundabout, the plans envisage stairs and a modern steel canopy, upon which a green roof will be installed. Benches, shrubs and almost 100 trees will be placed in the pedestrian zone, which is designed to allow activities and events to take place there.
Drawn-out process
This project has been in the works for years, with discussions about how to improve the space and reduce the frequent traffic jams ongoing since 2015 when former State Secretary Pascal Smet and then-Prime Minister Rudi Vervoort reached a political agreement to redevelop this space.
The original permit application was agreed with local residents, traders and other stakeholders. This was adjusted in 2021 to add more trees and improve accessibility for people with reduced mobility.
Planning permission for the revised project was delivered at the end of 2021. But more changes were made after the municipality of Etterbeek, where Schuman is located, and several neighbourhood committees lodged an appeal against the building permit.
Credit: Ans Persoons Cabinet/ COBE + BRUT
Now at last given the green light, the latest plans will ensure that two-way traffic will remain possible on Avenue de la Joyeuse Entrée, in accordance with the agreement between Brussels Mobility and the municipality of Etterbeek, which argued that a one-way system would result in major traffic congestion.
The issuing of this latest permit means that Brussels' construction manager Beliris can now finally carry out the works.
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The extensive project is largely funded by the European Recovery Plan: of the total cost of €25 million, €21 million comes from European funding.
"This is another important step for the capital of Europe. Place Schuman and its surroundings will be redesigned to make it a real meeting place," said Philippe Close, Mayor of the City of Brussels. "The surrounding European institutions make this Brussels crossroads the heart of Europe."
