Maasmechelen housing project gets permit, but developer is bankrupt

The province of Limburg has approved the first phase of the significant Willemskaai housing project in Maasmechelen, which will feature 5 buildings and 121 residential units along the Zuid-Willemsvaart. However, the project's future remains uncertain as the developer, Waterside Living Development, was declared bankrupt last month. The company that owns the land, Waterside Living Properties, has also gone bankrupt.

The Willemskaai project has a long history, with initial plans for nearly 400 apartments on the old Sint-Barbara shipyard dating back five years. Objections from local residents and boaters caused years of delays. After a previous permit was revoked at the end of 2024, the current developer submitted new plans in 2025.

Despite the bankruptcy, the curator, Dirk De Maeseneer, stated that allowing the permit procedure to continue was a strategic decision. "Everyone realized that land with a permit was a much more interesting position to sell than just land without a permit," De Maeseneer explained. The permit significantly enhances the land's value for potential buyers.

With the first phase now permitted, the curator will begin searching for a new project developer, enlisting the help of individuals already involved in the project. While it is unclear how quickly a buyer will be found, De Maeseneer noted that "there were many interested parties in the past, so they will certainly be contacted again."