DistantNews
Support us
๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ช Belgium /Economy & Trade

Halle requests exemption for building 564 social homes, citing lack of space

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The city of Halle is requesting an exemption from the Flemish government regarding the mandatory construction of 564 social housing units.
  • Halle's spatial planning alderman, Benjamin Swalens, stated that there is insufficient space to build the required social housing by 2042.
  • The city argues that meeting the quota is impossible due to a lack of space in the Flemish periphery.

The city of Halle is seeking an exemption from the Flemish government concerning the obligation to build 564 new social housing units. Benjamin Swalens, the alderman for Spatial Planning, declared that the city faces an insurmountable challenge in meeting this requirement.

According to Swalens, the deadline for providing these additional social housing units is 2042. However, he asserts that the necessary space simply does not exist within the city's current boundaries. This lack of available land presents a significant obstacle to fulfilling the government's mandate.

The city's plea highlights the difficulties faced in expanding social housing in densely populated areas, particularly within the Flemish periphery. Halle argues that the spatial constraints make the target quota unachievable, prompting the request for a special dispensation from the Flemish authorities.

There is simply no room for it.

โ€” Benjamin SwalensAlderman of Spatial Planning Benjamin Swalens explaining the difficulty in finding space for new social housing units.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog