CIRCULER

Leuven gets a large circular area

With the CIRCULER project, Interleuven wants to focus on the complete rethinking of business parks into circular business parks. Therefore, we have devised a co-creation process to exchange knowledge and ideas in the widest possible partnership of experts, residents and involved companies who all think together about the theme of 'circular business park' and its feasibility.

Concretely, we want to find an answer to the following questions: how can we use certain characteristics and assets of an area in a circular way? What are the principles to be used to make an area development circular? How can we facilitate matchmaking and (share) the space as efficiently and circularly as possible?

The theme is also examined from different angles: raw materials, energy, space, mobility, people and environment ... The resulting ideas and concepts are then tested on a cluster of business parks in the southern outskirts of Leuven.

This project fits in with the vision of the new structure plan of the city of Leuven and can provide the necessary tools for a (circular) development of the entire area. The final report also provides useful inspiration for anyone interested in circular area development in Flanders and beyond.

Key results

Key lessons learned
  1. We organised a total of 18 workshops and events during which not only companies, residents and experts could exchange knowledge, but also external parties such as public authorities, private developers, intermunicipal utility companies and study bureaus.
  2. The final report of this project, 'TOOLBOX for the (re)development of circular business parks', is the ideal inspiration for anyone who wants to get started with circular area development. It contains 64 actions divided over 6 relevant themes.
  3. Circular area development is easier to achieve when you start from a blank page. However, the creation of new space is contradictory to the circular thinking and optimisations of current business sites are more appropriate. It goes without saying that a transition to circular business parks is a long-term process.
  4. The possibilities for the Haasrode business parks in terms of sharing facilities and supporting services, collective parking and a modal shift are being actively investigated further. The business park association will also continue to work on this.
  1. Developing a common language at the start of the co-creation process with all stakeholders involved is very important in order not to keep encountering the same stumbling blocks.
  2. Differences between stakeholders are sometimes sharp. They can only come together if they are equally represented and can fully perceive each other's point of view. Getting the right discussion partners at the table within the organisations concerned is of great importance.
  3. Intensive co-creation processes such as CIRCULER require a great deal of attention and time, but are all the more rewarding for building lasting relationships with the participating stakeholders.
  4. Defining the end goal of the co-creation process together with the stakeholders provides clarity and transparency.

What will the future bring?

We use principles from the TOOLBOX in our new development, issuance and management plans. The Keiberg-Vossem business park (Tervuren) and the Lewa extension (Zoutleeuw) are a few examples of this.

The results of the research cases were well received by the C-Valley Leuven business park association. They have expressed the intention to continue working on this at the Haasrode business parks.

Interleuven will use the acquired knowledge for the Leuven region and in its own operations.

The City of Leuven and Leuven 2030 are also incorporating the process and ideas of CIRCULER in the realisation of their ambition of 'Leuven climate neutral city'.

Interleuven

Partners Rotor vzw, Istema, Community Land Trust Brussel, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, West-Vlaamse Intercommunale, VUB Cosmopolis, Stad Leuven, Leiedal, Levuur, C-Valley Leuven vzw, Provinciale Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij

Result

Download pdf file

Website

http://www.interleuven.be

Circular Flanders

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