Building permit delivered for design of Brussels pedestrian zone

The Brussels-Capital Region on Monday issued a planning permit to the City of Brussels for the design of its pedestrian zone in the city centre. "Once all of the facilities are in place, the locals and tourists who visit Brussels daily will experience the city in a whole new way," Brussels minister-president Rudi Vervoort told De Standaard. Vervoort also expressed his hope that other municipalities in Belgium will follow Brussels' example by taking the initiative to improve public space and redistribute it in such a way that benefits everyone.

"Receiving this building permit is an important step towards the concrete implementation of a project that is essential for the development of the city," said Brussels mayor Yvan Mayeur in the newspaper.

The permit allows for a total redesign of the area around Boulevard Anspach, which is the heart of the city's pedestrian zone. It gives the city the green light to make the boulevard more liveable for pedestrians, with green spaces and promenades, places for events and room for activities like jogging and biking.

The redesign will merge the current concrete roads and footpaths into one entity. The project also provides room for the installation of high-quality urban furniture, with an aim to help it become a full-fledged shared public space.