Plan for 800 new homes at Tour & Taxis

Up to 800 new homes could be built in Brussels if the plans of real estate developer and investor Nextensa for the Tour & Taxis neighbourhood are approved.

The firm presented its concept, which it is calling Lake Side, this week. The development totals around 140,000m².

Like many other European capitals, Brussels faces a housing crisis both in terms of supply and price increases.

The 800 homes promised in Nextensa’s plans come in addition to shops, offices and restaurants. A permit application has already been submitted.

“When we took over the site over 20 years ago, it was a real challenge,” said chief executive Michel Van Geyte.

“Since then, it has become a lever for the entire city of Brussels. So urban development is not just about building emblematic projects. You have to involve the whole environment and try to raise it to a higher level.”

Tour & Taxis is now entering its final phase of development with the Lake Side project.

The project is in line with the Special Land Use Plan for Tour & Taxis, which came into force in 2017.

To implement the plans, the developer called on the Rotterdam-based architectural firm MVRDV. Landscape architect Bas Smets will be responsible for the site’s environment.

“This new neighbourhood will be completely free of fossil fuels,” said Trees Verhoogen, sustainability manager at Nextensa.

“We are aiming for a minimal ecological footprint through the choice of building materials, and we are collecting all the rainwater for reuse.”

If the permit for Lake Side is approved, construction could begin by 2025.