Brussels’ Marchandises project: vertical allocation for regeneration initiated by a regional development agency

The Brussels Capital Region (BCR), Belgium, has witnessed growing state support for mixed-use development in former industrial and office areas. Citydev, a publicly-owned but independent regional development company, is involved in converting these sites and allocating public floorspace within mixed-use projects. This paper explores a vertical allocation case – the Marchandises project – located in Brussels’ Canal district. Driven by land scarcity and sustainable development goals, Marchandises is the first mixed-use project in the BCR to include a multi-purpose building with a mix of uses (manufacturing space, economic services and housing) that are expected to evolve over time. The project includes a public day-care facility, in response to the shortage of such facilities in the BCR. The paper analyses the ownership and responsibilities of the stakeholders as well as the development process and the contractual and legal aspects. Importantly, it points to implementation challenges related to specific planning instruments, regulations and procedures. Still, projects like Marchandises contribute to fulfilling urban regeneration goals and show how introducing housing and public facilities in industrial zones both foster economic growth and guarantee the public good. Overall, this case study shows how the combination of public facilities and private uses helps improve cities’ resilience and liveability.