Webinar: Building shift (“Bouwshift”) and spatial efficiency in Flanders

The building shift is an important part of spatial policy in Flanders and is a crucial step in the future development of our living environment. With the building shift, Flanders wants to limit additional developments on open spaces to 3 hectares per day by 2025. By 2040, the Flemish government aims for a clear distinction between built-up and unbuilt space, with no additional developments allowed on open, unbuilt space. Therefore, a construction freeze will be introduced in undeveloped areas after 2040.

The Instrument Decree (published in the Belgian Official Gazette on 3 July 2023) and the Housing Reserve Areas Decree (published in the Belgian Official Gazette on 27 June 2023) are two important decrees that should help implement this building shift. These two decrees promise to have a significant impact on real estate projects and entail a number of drastic changes in environmental law. Therefore, a good understanding of these decrees is important for developers and investors, but also for local cities and municipalities.