Cleanliness in decline, urban planning stalled: Audrey Henry, Secretary of State for Spatial Planning, Urban Development, Public Cleanliness, and Energy, inherits issues that are exasperating the business community. Between the urgent need to make our streets presentable and the promise of an administration finally listening to project developers, she outlines her approach. An interview on the remedies planned to unblock the regional system.
What is your assessment of the current state of cleanliness in Brussels, and how do you intend to make it a regional priority to strengthen the well-being of residents and the economic attractiveness of the capital?
Brussels has dedicated teams that clean our streets daily. For the past two months, as Secretary of State, I have had the opportunity to meet with the Brussels Cleanliness teams on several occasions. Running early in the morning with garbage bags that you throw into a truck commands respect.Cleanliness must become a collective priority. From the very beginning of my term, I met with all the aldermen to better understand what could be improved. The complex institutional structure helps neither the people of Brussels nor their decision-makers to solve this problem. With collaboration at different levels of government, I am hopeful that cleanliness in our capital will improve.
Beyond awareness campaigns, how do you plan to strengthen controls and sanctions in the most problematic areas (hotspots) that are harming businesses?
Prevention remains essential, but it is clearly not enough. In some neighborhoods, the rules are not being respected, which directly penalizes residents and businesses. We will therefore strengthen controls in the most problematic areas and take action when necessary. It is unacceptable that a minority should tarnish the region and that everyone should pay the price. Fines are never the first solution, but if it is the only way to enforce compliance with the rules for some, then we will take the necessary measures.
In Brussels, many SMEs lack space to store their waste. What solutions do you plan to offer to help them comply with their sorting obligations without disrupting their operations?
Space is a critical issue, especially in shops and SMEs where every square meter counts. For shops, cardboard boxes can quickly accumulate, rendering part of the retail space unusable. Sorting and recycling waste are essential, but it's better to tackle the problem at its source. Ask your suppliers to reduce their packaging; in addition to reducing transport and handling costs, this will also have a positive impact on the environment. It's better to act at the source, because the best waste is the waste that isn't produced. And if, despite everything, waste does accumulate, logistics will be your best ally, ensuring your largest deliveries are delivered the day before the collection days specified in your contract with your waste collector.
How do you plan to simplify and expedite the granting of planning permits to finally unlock the Region's economic development potential?
The complexity and slowness of the procedures are widely acknowledged. We are taking action in two stages: first, with swift measures to simplify existing procedures. This initial reform is already underway, and discussions are ongoing. Second, a more structural approach will be implemented through a thorough revision of the regulatory texts (PRAS and COBAT) to modernize the system and remove obstacles. This second, more substantial stage involves the administrations (Urban.brussels, Perspective.brussels, and Brussels Environment) and my office to achieve results as quickly as possible, while ensuring the robustness of the reforms.
What is your vision for balancing the different functions of the Region (housing, economy, green spaces) in your land use planning policy?
Today, the multiplicity of actors complicates procedures and harms readability. This is why we are going to bring together Urban.brussels, Perspective.brussels and part of Brussels Environment within Brussels Urbanism. This simplification will make it possible to better coordinate and bring more consistency to decisions. This merger will also aim to remove a layer of this institutional lasagna and provide a single clear point of contact for everyone: Brussels Urbanism.
How do you plan to connect waste management to heat networks (like that of the incinerator) to provide innovative and sustainable energy to Brussels businesses and housing?
The Neder-Over-Heembeek incinerator already supplies a heat network for several public buildings, Docks as well as the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken. This energy recovery constitutes an important first step and the long-term objective is to extend the network to the surrounding neighborhoods. We want to go further by innovating, in particular via the BE.SHARE project, with financial support from Europe, thanks to complementary solutions, such as geothermal and riot thermal energy. The objective is to produce local, sustainable and competitive energy for Brussels housing and businesses. The production of local, carbon-free energy is a key issue for the years to come, both from an economic (price stability) and environmental point of view.
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