The Minister for Regional Planning, Willy BORSUS, has approved funding for 7 new brownfield redevelopment projects (SAR). These are disused sites located in Bouillon, Braine-le-Comte, Châtelet, Seraing, Binche and La Louvière.
New monitoring was carried out to assess the progress of files previously allocated to the SOWAFINAL III funding programme (also known as the Walloon Investment Plan). In this context, and following analysis by the administration, budgetary transfers and adjustments were made in place of projects whose commitment date is after 2024.
It emerged that a subsidisable amount for the La Louvière site (convent and chapel of the little sisters), phase 2, would be €596,000.
In addition, regarding the former Ougrée hospital in Seraing, the municipal council has decided not to renovate the site but to demolish it instead. As the purpose of the subsidy has therefore changed, the €1,664,000 already committed in 2022 must be released. A new decree will therefore be needed for the demolition, currently estimated at €550,000.
It also emerged that the following sites needed additional funding:
- Devilca in Bouillon: additional €906,000
- Régies communales in La Louvière: second additional €305,000
- No. 7 du Gouffre in Châtelet: €785,000 (2024)
- Seraing, former Ougrée hospital: amount €550,000 (2024)
- Binche, the ramparts: amount €390,000 - acquisition (2024)
It should be noted that the La Louvière - Régies communales site was already the subject of a Government agreement on 27 April 2023 for an additional amount of €1,029,000.00, but limited to €724,000. The additional envelope of €305,000 therefore corresponds to the balance needed to reach the €1,029,000 budget.
Finally, following monitoring and feedback from operators, it emerged that one redevelopment site, not included in the Walloon Investment Plan list, requires funding for its acquisition:
- Catala in Braine-le-Comte: €1,650,000
In summary, the Walloon Government, on the initiative of the Minister for Regional Planning, Willy BORSUS, has approved and agreed to the transfers and new projects proposed by the operators:
| BOUILLON | Devilca: additional funding | 906.000,00 € |
| BRAINE-LE-COMTE | Catala | 1.650.000,00 € |
| CHATELET | No. 7 du Gouffre | 785.000,00 € |
| SERAING | Former Ougrée hospital | 550.000,00 € |
| BINCHE | Hôtel des Remparts | 390.000,00 € |
| LA LOUVIERE | Régies communales: additional funding | 305.000,00 € |
| LA LOUVIERE | Convent and chapel of the little sisters: phase 2 | 596.000,00 € |
In total, for 2023, under the Walloon Investment Plan, more than 20 million euros were invested to acquire, decontaminate or redevelop sites across Walloon territory.
New monitoring is underway for 2024.
“These adjustments make it possible to optimise funding for the redevelopment of new disused sites. As we know, we lack space in Wallonia, both to develop economic activity and to create housing. By redeveloping these sites, we are revitalising certain neighbourhoods and restoring functionality to buildings that had been left abandoned. This is a priority process for the Region and its territory.” emphasises Willy BORSUS.