Schaerbeek gives negative opinion on Josaphat housing development

Schaerbeek municipal council has issued an unfavourable opinion over controversial plans for the Josaphat site, citing a massive number of objections from residents.

The former railway yard turned wild nature reserve has been the subject of heated debate for some time now, with plans to turn it into housing development facing sharp criticism from residents and organisations wishing to preserve its environmental function. 

“15,000 objections from the public is a significant signal,” said acting mayor Martin de Brabant (MR).  

“We have listened to the public outcry. This high level of engagement demonstrates how much our residents care about the future of the site.”

Axa-Eiffage wants to build 537 homes on the Josaphat site and submitted a land subdivision application for which the public consultation concluded last week.

Residents and campaigners submitted more than 15,000 objections to the project and the council of Schaerbeek met to discuss the matter, divided largely along party lines.

The PS party supports the construction project, while Ecolo-Groen and, more recently, Défi oppose it. The local MR party has also consistently opposed it in the past.

Ultimately, the council issued an "advisory opinion by majority", meaning that a vote was taken within the council. The opinion was unfavourable - but ultimately the final decision rests with the Brussels region, not the municipality itself.

In its advisory report, the council emphasised the importance of quality of life for residents and the role of nature in the city.

“Following a review of the dossier and the analysis by the municipal services, the college of aldermen is of the opinion that the amendments to the project do not address the concerns regarding global warming,” said the mayor, who is also the alderman responsible for urban development.

“In particular, these relate to combating heat islands, rainwater management and the preservation of soil and biodiversity.

"The integration into the surrounding neighbourhoods and the day-to-day functioning of the new neighbourhood also remain areas of concern."

Schaerbeek’s alderman for public spaces, Gudrun Willems (Groen), welcomed the negative recommendation. 

“This is a clear signal. The responses to the public consultation were phenomenal,” Willems said.

“Local residents, nature organisations and people from all over Brussels have made it clear that this brownfield site is not a building plot, but a vital green lung for the city.”

The consultation committee will meet next week for residents opposed to the construction project to voice their concerns, as those in favour have already done.  

The advice of the municipalities of Schaerbeek and Evere will also be taken into account, although the Brussels region ultimately has the final say.

The Brussels government itself has put this politically-sensitive issue on hold for the time being and agreed not to make a decision on whether or not to build on the Josaphat site until September 2028.