Government approves permit for smaller Uplace

The Flemish government has approved a slimmed-down version of Uplace, the shopping and leisure complex planned for Machelen in Flemish Brabant, just north of Brussels. The decision provoked criticism, notably from economist Paul De Grauwe, formerly of the University of Leuven, who now teaches at the London School of Economics.

“This is an example of crony capitalism,” he told VRT News. “This is the sort of thing you see in China, where politicians and businessmen work out policy between them.”

The government should be investing in schools, not shops, he said. “It’s not as if we have a shortage of shops, but we do have a serious shortage of schools.”

The planning permission approved by the government at the weekend cuts the number of shops by one-third, though the total size of the complex remains the same. Critics say the plan for the 190,000-square-metre complex, the biggest in the Benelux, threatens the existence of nearby town centres, from Brussels to Leuven. The cities of Leuven and Vilvoorde, together with Unizo, the organisation that represents the self-employed, are bringing an action before the Council of State to have the project cancelled.

Flanders’ public works minister, Ben Weyts, called the criticism from the opposition gratuitous and unfair. “If people want to speak of conflicts of interest and partiality then they ought to name names and present evidence to back that up. Otherwise it needs to stop.”

He also denied a claim by the mayor of Vilvoorde, one of the project’s main critics, that the government was investing €480 million in the project of a single entrepreneur. “We are investing in total more than €480 million in mobility improvements for the whole region,” he said. “But those investments, such as the plans for the Brussels Ring, will come with or without Uplace.” Uplace itself, he argued, would receive no public money at all.

The planning permission now opens up to public discussion. Meanwhile, a decision is expected this week on an appeal to the Cassation court brought by the last Flemish government to contest a Council of State decision to nullify an environmental permit for Uplace.

Photo courtesy Uplace