Rewilding vs Housing: the Josaphatsite

 

Rewilding vs Housing: the Josaphatsite

 

 

Most people in Brussels are aware of the Josaphatpark, a green and open space to relax, meet up with friends, exercise, etc. located in Schaarbeek. However, not many are aware that just a 100m north from the park an almost equally large open green space is located. This other ignored open green space is the Josaphat site. From 1926 to 1994, this site was used as a freight station and had 6 different rails of which just 3 remain today. It was privately owned by the NMBS/SCNB and bought by the regional administration of Brussels in 2005. In 2013 most of the remaining station rails were removed, and filled in with a clean slate of grit. After this, the terrain has been left barren and was at the center of different debates on what to do with the site. Meanwhile, the site was left alone and began to rewild.

 

The Josaphatsite 1953; still a freight station (Bruciel)

 

When leaving a barren ground untouched it can begin the process often referred to as ‘rewilding’. Rewilding is when humans step aside and let nature go its own course. Nature will restore itself, enabling growth in biodiversity. To this day, this phenomenon can be seen in action at the Josaphatsite. As this site has been a subject of many debates, many studies and analyses have been made. One common point that stands out in many of these studies is the increasingly important biodiversity of the place.

As of April 2023, there have been 1406 animal and plant species observed within the site. To give an idea: 248 species of bees and and ants, 35 species of dragonfly, 138 species of birds, etc. (waarnemingen.be). Some of the observed species are very rare for Belgium. These numbers illustrate a truly impressive result, especially for an area in urban context. This also goes to show how effective the rewilding can and has been at restoring the site’s biodiversity.

 

A green and biodiverse space (Bral, 01/03/2023)

 

Besides being a green open space, it’s also seen as an opportunity for housing construction.

Around 50.000 families are registered on a waiting list for social housing in the Brussels-Capital region. One of the solutions to the housing problem was to plan for expansion zones in advance (about 10 years ago). 10 expansion zones were selected, among them the Josaphatsite. Originally planned to build 1400 housing units and other service buildings. Authorities had planned on providing a social mix, access to public transport (Evere station), office buildings for SMEs and other services. From a social and economic perspective this wasn’t a bad plan. But this was planned out before any studies or site analyses had been done. Around mid 2019 the Brussels-Capital region tasked a new environmental study. As we now know, this has become an important sanctuary for the urban ecosystem of the Brussels region. Yet in April of 2020, without any warnings, in the middle of breeding season, in came excavators to dig 1000 square meters of valuable habitat (mainly to dragonflies, some of which are very rare). No permit was needed because it was only preparatory work for a large-scale soil test.

 

Vision for the Josaphat site (MSI, 08/2022)

 

There’s also a lot of controversy around the process of planning. The Brussels-Capital region makes use of a tool called ‘Plan d’Aménagement Directeur’ ( PAD ). This tool allows them to ignore previously set regulations on a site (like building height limit, etc.), making it easier for them to develop and implement new master plans. This also allows them to minimize citizen consultation and participation. The current project also has a lot of controversy, one being that they stated that only 40-45% of the housing will be publicly owned. Many people believe that this isn’t enough considering a waiting list of 50.000 families.

 

Since first being announced, the plans have constantly been changed. In recent times the plan has evolved a lot from the original concept. Some important changes such as the amount of publicly owned buildings which has been raised to 50%, meaning an equal amount of publicly as privately-owned housing units. And although the PAD gave the authorities a lot of free range, they still had to abide by the environmental effect reports (MER). Previous MER plan had been made for the 2019 plans for the site, but with a newly adjusted plan winter 2020, the MER plans also needed to be revised (winter 2020-2021). This report gives a prediction of the effects of the planned project on the environment. It also compares the old and the new plan for positive or negative changes. In the end the plans will have to change to the MER report if deemed necessary to protect the environment.

 

In the end, the Brussels-Capital region isn’t doing anything legally wrong; they probably didn’t even need a PAD. On the ‘Gewestelijke bestemmingsplan’ the site is located in an area that says: "This area is intended for housing, facilities of collective interest or of public services, production activities, offices and green spaces that preserve the existing biological qualities of the species”. And while on the one hand the argument of the rich and important biodiversity can be made against construction, on the other hand one could argument that there is a drastic need for (social)housing and agree with the construction. The current plan theoretically looks to be in balance of both sides, 50/50 housing and green, but this will probably mean a major loss of biodiversity (more than 50%). Still no construction has begun to this day and debates are still going on. The site remains at the center of an ongoing political controversy.

 

 

Authors:

Ian Van Den Noortgaete & Emmanuel Fransman

 

References:

 

David Van Reybroeck. (2020). Sauvons la friche Josaphat. Brussels and “Rewilding”.

https://www.sauvonslafrichejosaphat.be/bruxelles-et-le-rewilding-d-van-reybroeck/

 

Josaphat.brussels. https://josaphat.brussels/en/news

 

Perspective.brussels. (2021). https://perspective.brussels/nl/stadsprojecten/strategische-polen/josaphat

 

Steyn Van Assche. (2021). Bral action brussels. Het Manifesto van PlanBJosaphat is er!

https://bral.brussels/nl/artikel/het-manifesto-van-planbjosaphat-er