CCN building to be demolished as part of North district redevelopment

The Brussels regional administration has granted the necessary permit for the demolition of the CCN building in front of the North train station, reports Bruzz.

It will be replaced with a new building, constructed on the existing foundations of the CCN property. The nearby bus stops and access routes to the pre-metro station will be preserved.

It's not yet clear when the demolition of the CCN building will take place and there's little information about the replacement building and the accompanying redevelopment of the area. But the government confirmed in February that there will be three new city squares built around the station.

State secretary for urban planning Pascal Smet announced on Monday that the demolition permit was granted a few weeks ago and that it has now arrived for review at the Schaerbeek administration for urban planning. At the end of last year, it was announced that the demolition might start at the beginning of 2022. The interior of the building is currently being dismantled.

Access for pedestrians and commuters is also ensured during the entire demolition, reports the Smet cabinet. This was one of the conditions of the consultation committee.

The CCN building has been owned by Atenor, AG Real Estate and AXA IM - Real Assets since 2019. Property developer CCN Development, a consortium of Atenor and AG Real Estate, is responsible for the new building but currently cannot give any further information on plans or timing.

Any new construction must take into account a new plan for spatial planning in the North district. The municipality of Schaerbeek is currently trying to change the special zoning plan (BBP) of the district, a procedure that could take another year. At the moment, the environmental impact studies for the plan are ongoing. This will be followed by a public study.

In anticipation of clear new construction plans, a temporary neighbourhood project will be built on the site of the CCN building after the demolition. This project will provide sports grounds, a skate park and a summer bar.