Over Hexagon

Hexagon sees solutions to Flanders' shortage of business space

In its latest paper, Voka – the Flemish network of enterprises – is rightly sounding the alarm. In Flanders, companies are currently facing a structural shortage of available space to do business or invest. The supply of available plots today amounts to just 531 hectares. Along with the other provinces, West Flanders is at risk of running out of available business space within two years. As a developer, Hexagon works on the redevelopment of existing sites every day. That is why our team sees a different problem above all: it is not the physical space that is lacking, but the ability to activate it efficiently.

Hexagon ziet oplossingen voor vlaamse nood aan bedrijfsruimt

There is business space, but it's locked up

The Voka study points to 479 hectares of officially unused business land in West Flanders. Hexagon knows them. They are often brownfields, outdated factory sites or unused plots waiting for a new purpose. What's more, these sites are often strategically located: in urban centres, along logistics corridors or with good access. What is missing is an effective and clear permit policy.

Today, we come up against:

Conflicting advice from governments and administrations,
long lead times that bring projects to a standstill for years,
a judicialisation of permit policy, where every objection acts as a brake,
uncertainty about how policy on net land take and the 'building shift' will be interpreted.

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At Hexagon, we believe the future lies in redeveloping what is already there. Within the existing space, we can create sustainable business estates, climate-adaptive developments and strong local roots.

Jelle Vandendriessche, Director, Hexagon

Hexagon ziet oplossingen voor vlaamse nood aan bedrijfsruimt 3

Stop blocking without vision, start activating with purpose

If we really want to create economic space, we need to collectively change tack:

Speed up and simplify permit procedures for redevelopment projects
Give priority to brownfields and inner-city business estates in policy frameworks and in lead times.
Limit the scope for appeals against redevelopment projects with clear social added value
A 10-hectare project that creates 300 jobs should not be open to endless litigation by a single neighbour.
Provide one integrated, unambiguous advisory framework
No more contradictions between the region, the municipality and the agencies.
Postpone the ban on net land take until 2050
Or make exceptions for the reuse of existing sites.

Hexagon is ready, now the government

At Hexagon, we believe the future lies in redeveloping what is already there. No taking up open space unless it is necessary. Within the existing space, we can create sustainable business estates, climate-adaptive developments and strong local roots.

But we need a government that does not work against us. One that understands that redevelopment is not a luxury project, but the key to economic progress without ecological decline. West Flanders does not have to become a desert of missed opportunities. But then we need to stop talking about space that has “run out” and start opening up existing space again.