Océade water park set to close in January

One of Brussels' most popular attractions, Océade water park near the Atomium, has announced it will close for good in January to make way for a massive new shopping and leisure complex at Heysel.

The park, which attracted 250,000 visitors last year, had originally been told it had to leave Heysel in summer 2013, but received a stay of execution until this year while discussions continued on the new complex, called Neo.

In a statement, management at the park expressed their disappointment, claiming that Océade was being forced to close despite Neo not having received any planning permission at this stage.

Océade said it had been given two options by Brussels Expo: to close in January 2017 - or leave the site two years later but with the obligation to carry out soil pollution tests and remedy any problems. It said the second option would have meant closing to the public in November 2017, and instead opted for the earlier date.

In a statement, Océade's directors thanked staff "for their professionalism and exemplary attitude, despite the uncertainty surrounding the park's future since the Neo project was first floated about 10 years ago".

The water park, which made €400,000 of renovation works this summer, says it is the third most-visited attraction in Brussels and is on course to be the biggest this year in terms of revenue. Océade says it pays €300,000 a year to Brussels City in rents and taxes.