After defining the policy for mobility by putting pedestrians and cyclists at the center of mobility policy in Brussels, similar paradigm shift is now taking place with the Good Living policy in the capital. The focus of this policy is on three key principles covering all areas of living spaces: public space, urbanism and the habitability of the city.
“We are changing the face of the city, first with Good Move in the area of mobility and now in the area of urban development. I went into politics to change and improve things and if this is approved, it will really be a revolution for Brussels,” told State Secretary for Urbanism Pascal Smet.
The rules determined by Good Living will cover various aspects of Brussels’ living environments; some changes will be directly visible while others are more subtle.
Some of the proposed changes include:
- 30% of the space has to be made into open space, of which three-quarters has to be “open ground”. Benches, toilets and water fountains will be systematically integrated into this space to make it “truly livable,” while advertising will be largely prohibited in public places.
- A less visible change is that 15% of public roads will have to be soil-based – a key factor in managing rainwater.
- There will be a focus on renovation. Buildings can only be demolished and reconstructed when no other option is available.
- When buildings are constructed, they will have to fulfil multiple purposes within their lifespan: buildings that are currently being used as an office space should also easily be transformed into hotels or apartments. Buildings must also incorporate water reservoirs or another system to collect rainwater. The unused potential of rooftop spaces is also a question on the table.
“This will not change things overnight, but every time something is renovated or built, or a new street is constructed, it must comply with the new rules,” Smet said
Source : https://www.brusselstimes.com/brussels-2/284575/brussels-state-of-mind-an-urban-development-revolution-is-brewing
