Pedestrianisation - planning permission withdrawn before State Council decision

Pedestrianisation - planning permission withdrawn before State Council decision

Consultation has now taken place between the Brussels Region, Brussels City Council and Beliris (which promotes the influence of Brussels nationwide).
As a result it has been decided to withdraw planning permissions relating to the pedestrianisation of the roads in Brussels city centre. The Office of the Brussels Minister-President, Rudi Vervoort, in charge of urban planning, stated on Tuesday that this will now happen.

It said that this decision was taken following the opinion of the State Council, which has argued in favour of the suspension of planning permission.

Furthermore, the ruling of the State Council on several suspended planning appeals, stemming from arguments stated in this case, was expected on today or, at the latest, sometime in the next few days.

The Office of the Brussels Minister-President, recalled that the Auditor's opinion did not call into question the actual pedestrianisation aspect but raised “breaches in respect of impact reports.” It stressed, in a communiqué, circulated via the Belga press agency, that “for the sake of caution, it has therefore been decided to withdraw the planning permission, in response to comments by the State Council Auditor when giving his opinion.”

The Office added that this decision should allow Beliris and Brussels City Council to complete the impact report. This will allow implementation of the two planning permissions for pedestrian urban planning.”

The Office of the Brussels Minister-President says that the project should not be delayed by this decision. The waterproofing works not affected by these planning permissions, may, in fact start in the time period laid down. It states, “The Region, the City Council and Beliris have in this way taken a joint cautious decision, without waiting for the decision of the State Council.”

Quoted in the communiqué, the Alderman of Brussels City Council, Yvan Mayeur wants “construction to occur in the best possible conditions for all concerned and therefore as soon as possible.”

Rudi Vervoort has insisted upon the importance of “making the pedestrian project more secure. The project will, per the planned timescale, receive fresh planning permission at the latest by the end of the year.”

(Source: Belga)


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