Renovations and construction are still taking place in flood areas: “This is not a good idea” | Domestic

The past month proved it once again: when it rains a lot, many cities and municipalities in Flanders are at risk of flooding. The previous Flemish government was already working on an exercise to avoid such damage in the future. She looked at which areas were best left undeveloped. These are the so-called signal areas: approximately 1,250 hectares where the risk of flooding is so great that there may be a construction ban. That exercise has been completed since 2017.

This has been put into practice since last summer. Approximately 800 hectares have now been provisionally designated as a water-sensitive open space area (WORG). In the interim period (2017-2023), local authorities issued another 167 urban development permits for projects in these areas.

The figure comes from a written question from Flemish Member of Parliament Mieke Schauvliege (Green) to Minister of the Environment Zuhal Demir (N-VA). In concrete terms, this mainly concerns permits for buildings or structures, permits for outbuildings or structures around buildings and permits for infrastructure, but also permits for publicity signs and permits for site (construction works).

Schauvliege is particularly notable for the 96 permits for buildings or structures. Such a permit is required for new construction projects and major renovations, which usually require an architect. “These buildings are located in areas that are flooded during heavy rainfall. These are areas that are necessary for collecting and buffering rainwater. These homes can also get in the way if a government wants to take new measures against flooding.”

According to Andy Pieters, spokesperson for Minister Demir, some of those 96 permits do not concern new construction but the renovation of an existing home or commercial building. Pieters could not say exactly how much yesterday. He does point out that it is ultimately Demir who started designating those WORG zones.

That’s right, but it did take a lot of time, pointed out Robin De Ridder, staff member at the Flemish Association for Spatial Planning and Planning. in an opinion piece in ‘De Morgen‘. “Building new houses or carrying out major renovations in those areas is not a good idea,” he said in a response. “It is harmful that the Flemish government does not dare to give that message to owners.”

Schauvliege also criticizes the time it took Demir to start designating the WORG zones. “The minister has wasted a lot of time,” she says. “She waited until the Flemish government approved its controversial and insanely high compensation scheme for landowners.” The Demir cabinet confirms that the compensation scheme has been awaited. “The Flemish government is of the opinion that the owners of those lands should receive correct, fair compensation when their lands are repurposed,” says Pieters.

Minister Demir’s spokesperson calls it “cynical” that Groen complains about delays. “Never before has a government taken so much initiative to protect open space,” it said. “The reason why months of time was lost is because Groen carried out various delaying maneuvers in the Flemish Parliament, which delayed the instrument decree and the decree for the protection of residential reserve areas. Without Groen it could all have gone much faster.”

In the meantime, according to the spokesperson, an area of ​​800 hectares of residential reserve areas has been protected. He also notes that local authorities are responsible for which permits they issue. “There is a reason why Flanders often unexpectedly appeals against permits from local authorities, that is because they often take too little account of the water sensitivity of an area.”