Following approval by the Brussels government, State Secretary for Urban Planning Audrey Henry has sent her administration, urban.brussels, an interpretative circular that concretely changes the situation for the city's development. This follows a ruling that banned construction on undeveloped sites larger than 0.5 hectares, in the name of the Region's decarbonisation. In other words, an extremely restrictive interpretation was practically preventing construction on large, still undeveloped plots of land, even though Brussels needs housing, community facilities and economic activity.
With this circular, Audrey Henry clarifies the framework: decarbonisation is a central objective, but it cannot serve as a pretext for a total freeze on construction. Brussels must be able to evolve, densify intelligently and reinvent itself where it makes sense, while incorporating ambitious climate requirements. This is not about pitting climate against urban development, but about reconciling them within a coherent vision for the territory: more efficient buildings, better-integrated projects, a more compact and sustainable city.
This sends a strong signal to all urban stakeholders, municipalities, developers, architects, civil society, residents: Brussels remains a city that builds, that transforms itself, that refuses stagnation. Yes, the capital must be exemplary in climate terms, but it must also be able to develop its buildings, welcome new residents, adapt its infrastructure and modernise its vision of urban planning. This is the course Audrey Henry stands by: a Brussels ambitious for the climate, but equally ambitious for its urban development.