Ninove (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Ninove plans to move technical services to Door Noord, costing €4.5M for 30,000 m². Critics like Stijn Vander Elst warn of lost jobs; Alderman Werner Somers cites limited alternatives.
As VRT News reported, the Ninove city council plans to move the municipality’s technical services to the Door Noord industrial estate. Local politicians and observers have raised concerns over the decision. Stijn Vander Elst of Positief Ninove says the site is the most expensive commercial land in the city.
“At 150 euros per square meter for a 30,000-square-meter site, the city would spend about 4.5 million euros,”
Stijn Vander Elst explained.
What is the impact of Ninove’s €4.5M technical services move?
2 major companies had concrete plans to develop the land. If they had proceeded, the companies would have paid the same 4.5 million euros for the site and created between 100 and 200 jobs. With the city now purchasing the land, these private initiatives are paused. Observers say the delay could slow industrial growth and reduce new employment opportunities in Ninove.
Alderman Werner Somers (Forza Ninove) responded to questions about the relocation of the city’s technical services. He said the city commissioned a detailed site study, which showed that no short-term alternatives are available.
Somers criticised the opposition’s calculations, stating that some of the land being discussed is privately owned or belongs to Solva. Stin Vander Elst continues to call for a solution to the issue. She insists the city must act to resolve the situation and ensure the technical services can operate without disruption.
“Let’s look for another suitable location with an open mind and across party lines,”
Stin Vander Elst says.
“The technical department absolutely deserves a new, better location, but not if it means mortgaging the city’s coffers.”
The discussion over relocating Ninove’s technical services began in early 2025, when city officials started exploring the possibility of moving the department to the Door Noord industrial estate. In February 2025, opposition parties raised concerns about the costs and potential revenue from selling existing land.
By April 2025, the city commissioned a site study to examine alternatives, which concluded that no short-term relocation options are feasible. Ownership complications, including parcels held by private parties and Solva, have further delayed plans, leading aldermen to consider both financial feasibility and efficient use of the current site.
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