The Brussels Canal Plan: a fine European example (video)

The European Urban Knowledge Network (EUKN), released three videos on urban policies in Europe, including a video presenting the Brussels-Capital Region’s Canal Plan initiative and its aspirations.

These videos come with a study by the German Ministry with responsibility for Urban Affairs. The study will be available on the EUKN website by the end of august 2017. The study is conducted to mark the 10th anniversary of the Leipzig Charter, a Charter that defines the basics of a European urban policy. It analyses urban policies in 35 European and 5 non-European countries and homes in on 3 flagship developments, one of which the Brussels Canal Plan. The other two projects are based in the cities of Vantaa (Finland) and Brno (Czech Republic).

Launched by the Region in 2012, the Canal Plan takes a holistic approach to the development of the Canal area by focusing on 3 elements: the quality of the public space, mixity and densification. The video highlights the innovation in the approach and in the governance that was put in place to realize the plan’s objectives. That governance is ensured by the Urban Development Corporation (sau-msi.brussels) and a number of other regional bodies: perspective.brussels, the Bouwmeester Maître Architecte (Master Architect) and his team and Bruxelles Urbanisme et Patrimoine (Brussels Town Planning and Heritage).

This is not the first time the Canal Plan has gained international acclaim for its innovative and exemplary approach. In fact, at the end of 2016, it was awarded the ISOCARP (International Society of City and Regional Planners) Grand Prize of the Awards for Excellence in Planning.

• Check out the videos here.