Schuman square quietly inaugurated amid criticism from locals

The completion of the renovation of the Schuman roundabout was marked with a modest reception on Monday, despite a previous announcement that its inauguration would be postponed.

A more festive reception was planned until scheduling conflicts emerged that meant Brussels minister-president Boris Dilliès (MR) and mobility minister Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) would be unable to attend. 

But while the initial plans were first said to have been postponed, project-owner Beliris later opted instead to hold a much smaller ceremony. 

“Our phase of the construction works is now fully complete,” said Elien De Swaef, spokesperson for Beliris.

The redevelopment began on 17 November 2023 and has been contentious due to budget issues, which eventually led to a scaling down of original plans and the scrapping of a much-discussed canopy over the square. The lack of greenery in the square has led it to being dubbed a "frying pan".

De Swaef emphasised that, despite fierce criticism from both home and abroad, Beliris is nevertheless proud of the work carried out and the result. 

“There was good cooperation and communication with the various partners, as well as with shopkeepers and local residents,” said de Swaef.

“It’s a fine result, with as much greenery as the technical constraints allowed us to provide. I can understand, to some extent, that many would have liked to see even more. We faced significant constraints on this site.”

The redevelopment of the square ultimately cost €29 million, of which €21.5 million was financed by an interest-free loan provided under the European recovery plan following the pandemic. 

This funding was allocated to the project’s road safety measures, such as the construction of new cycle paths.

It was, among other things, the deadline for that loan that led to the planned canopy being scrapped. 

The canopy would have cost a further €13 million, but there was no budget for it due to the higher cost of building materials, inflation and strict safety requirements imposed by the European institutions.

Among those disappointed by the final result of the three-year construction project are local residents and shopkeepers. 

“We now have a large, empty, concrete circle that doesn’t match the original plan,” resident Daniel Taton told RTBF.

“An incredible amount of vegetation has been removed. There used to be a ring of trees around the roundabout. All of that has been cleared away and replaced with a few flower pots.”

Taton has lived in the neighbourhood for 40 years and is a member of the Schuman Square non-profit organisation, which has criticised the lack of consultation with those who use the space.

Shopkeeper Raphaël echoed complaints about the lack of greenery, telling RTBF that “it would have been nice to have a beautiful tree, something more symbolic. More greenery, more trees. In any case, it’s not very pleasant.”

Bistro-manager Serge added that the traffic changes as a result of the renovation had left the community fragmented.

“If you want to get to the other side by car, it’s a real struggle,” he said. “We don’t see as many people who live on the other side of the neighbourhood any more.”

Taton also lamented the impact on drivers, saying that residents who previously drove through the roundabout now must take alternative routes that cause gridlock in the surrounding neighbourhoods.

In response to the criticism, Beliris highlighted the technical constraints. 

“We’re situated above a train and metro station, there’s only 35 centimetres of soil beneath our feet, and there’s a limit on the weight we can place on it: 500kg per square metre,” de Swaef said, explaining that this, among other reasons - such as safety measures related to the plaza’s proximity to European institutions - is why the plaza’s greenery is limited to container plants.

Beliris presented the redevelopment as a step forward, rather than a final outcome. Plans for the central part of the square are still under consideration, with a view to allowing minor alterations while complying with the site’s technical and safety requirements. 

The Brussels region is also reportedly considering further improvements in response to the criticism voiced by local residents and shopkeepers.

De Swaef said that, following widespread criticism, Brussels Mobility is examining whether the square can be made even greener.

“Discussions on this are still ongoing. I cannot say any more at present,” she added.