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The Flemish town of Harelbeke is set to undertake a tremendous transformation geared towards energy efficiency and sustainable mobility. To finance this vast urban renewal project, Harelbeke has the backing of the "Smart Cities & Sustainable Development" programme of Belfius and the European Investment Bank. The objective of this joint financing programme is to help local authorities implement their smart, inclusive and sustainable projects in order to provide real impetus to the "Smart Cities" initiative in Belgium.

Two years after the launch of the "Smart Cities & Sustainable Development" programme, progress is excellent. Loans totalling more than EUR 280m have already been granted to around 40 projects of Belgian local authorities. Moreover, the very first project in Flanders under this programme was carried out in Harelbeke: the construction of a CNG station on the  site of the inter-municipal waste management utility IMOG. Thanks to this facility, the operations of IMOG's vehicle fleet are now "greener", as are the CNG vehicles of private individuals and the urban and municipal services of Harelbeke and the region. In fact, anybody can fill up at the new station.

h^aqua: urban regeneration on the waterfront

Shortly after the launch of the "Smart Cities & Sustainable Development" programme, the municipal administration of Harelbeke submitted a financing proposal for the "h^aqua" project. h^aqua consists of two large sites: the "Leiewerken" project on the Lys, forming part of the Seine-Scheldt link (including, in particular, the connection of several public buildings to the environmentally-friendly heating network), and the redevelopment of the Market Square, with a special focus on sustainable mobility.

Harelbeke grew up on the banks of the Lys but nowadays the river is hardly noticeable in the town: it has literally been hidden from view behind buildings and infrastructure. The town wishes to reinstate its link with the river and give the Lys the place it deserves. Thanks to the reorganisation of the town centre around the Lys, the urban nucleus is going to change radically over the next few years, gaining attractive public spaces and residential areas.

The Market Square: the new heart of the town. The Market Square (Marktplein) will become a pleasant space ensuring a broader connection to the Lys and leading gradually to the quayside.

In Twee-Bruggenstraat, an esplanade will be created along the Lys, where pedestrians can watch the boats passing through the locks and follow the development of the Overleie district from a distance.

Overleie will gain in visibility and will be better linked to the current centre by bridges between the two banks. The Overleie side will become a landscaped urban river bank that will provide space for cultural heritage, nature, relaxation and housing. The "green" element will run through the different projects in multiple forms ranging from a large park to a row of trees.

Several buildings switch to "green" heating

Substantial value added will be generated throughout the project area by connecting a considerable number of buildings to the heating network, installed by Infrax, which will extend right into the city centre via Vrijdomkaai and Twee-Bruggenstraat. As it will use the process heat from IMOG's incinerator, it will be a "green" network. On the local government side, the CPAS (Public Social Action Centre), the town hall, the youth centre, music academy and the central school will be connected to this network, contributing to a large reduction in CO2 emissions. 

“Harelbeke sets an example for other towns and cities”

Belfius and the European Investment Bank felt that the "h^aqua" project was clearly based on a smart, strategic, integrated and sustainable approach. Harelbeke therefore serves as an example for other towns and cities.

The main strengths of the "h^aqua" project are:

  • an excellent sustainable comprehensive project which is in line with the local government's sustainable strategy and its commitment to climate action;
  • a comprehensive project based on a master plan which creates more open and green spaces, improves and encourages sustainable mobility and cuts the energy bill, while contributing to the implementation of the Seine-Scheldt project, in which the Lys serves as a link in the waterway for higher-tonnage vessels between the Seine and the Scheldt basins;
  • the key words: ecology, energy, urban quality and minimal inconvenience. It is in this spirit that the Market Square will be re-developed and the Lys weir will no longer be limited to controlling the water level, but will also be used to generate electricity.  Moleneiland, for its part, will be equipped with an ecological fishway and will evolve into a meeting place for social sustainability. The work will also be carried out in accordance with the same principles: transport by inland waterways, sorting and recycling of materials, etc.;
  • sustainable mobility: to encourage and promote cycling and walking between the two river banks,  Hogebrug bridge has been widened and equipped with benches. In addition, the slope to the lowered quayside has been reduced. All this has been achieved, of course, with sustainable materials, requiring little maintenance. Other examples include the installation of a path parallel to the Square for cyclists and the disabled and the addition of around 50 parking spaces for bikes and two spaces for "Cambio" shared cars and a charging terminal for electric bikes and cars;
  • the northern section of Moleneiland will be developed into a natural area providing opportunities for relaxation. This area will be landscaped with plants, and will also have a natural function owing to the installation of a fish ladder (an ecological migratory route for fish).  The regeneration of vegetation is also planned;
  • and last but not least, the energy bill will be reduced thanks to the connection of several buildings to a "green" heating network using the process heat from the incinerator of the inter-municipal waste management utility IMOG, which is also located in Harelbeke. A few years ago, this incinerator was equipped with a high-performance air cleaning system and its emissions now comply with the strictest standards. The process heat from the incinerator will be used from now on to supply locally produced "green" energy to various public and other buildings: CPAS/care centre, youth centre, fire service, primary school, academy, new hotel and catering establishments, apartments, etc.

Harelbeke's total budget for the "h^aqua" project (Leiewerken, including the re-development of the Market Square and the heating network) is EUR 5 802 500, EUR 146 390 of which will be covered by subsidies. The finance granted by Belfius and the EIB under the "Smart Cities & Sustainable Development" programme amounts to EUR 5 656 110. The advantageous conditions linked to the EU funds considerably reduce the interest charges which is beneficial to both the town's finances and its habitants.

Alain Top, Mayor of Harelbeke: "Towns and cities are directly and indirectly responsible for more than half of the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the energy consumed in normal human activities. In Harelbeke, we therefore feel that we should set an example. This explains why the town of Harelbeke takes the issue of sustainability very seriously, For several years, this has also been one of the priorities of our plans (multi-annual strategic plan, strategic assistance plan, climate action plan, lighting plan, etc.). This commitment was recently strengthened by the singing of the "Mayors' Agreement" in 2013 and the local declaration of commitment to climate policy  (Engagementverklaring Lokaal Klimaatbeleid) of the West Flanders Province in 2014. Our end objective is to be climate-neutral.  The implementation of the "h^aqua'" project under the "Smart Cities and Sustainable Development" programme of Belfius and the BEI is fully consistent with this objective.

Belfius/EIB "Smart Cities & Sustainable Development" Programme

Recently awarded a prized by the British magazine World Finance, the "Smart Cities & Sustainable Development" financing programme is intended to make EUR 400 million available to local authorities in Belgium for the implementation of "smart and sustainable" projects in line with the "Smart Cities" approach and with a particular emphasis on mobility, urban development and/or energy efficiency.

The objective of this programme is to minimise borrowing costs for municipalities, CPASs (Public Social Action Centres) and inter-municipal utilities in order to support their innovative and sustainable approach. The EIB and Belfius are each providing half of the funds.

Two years after the launch of the programme, loans have already been granted to around 40 projects, benefiting a total of over a million inhabitants, e.g. the CNG facility of the inter-municipal waste management utility IMOG in Harelbeke, "near-zero energy" sheltered housing in Shelle, the renovation of Deinze town centre and the development of La Croisette in Dinant. A further 150 applications are currently being examined. The "Smart Cities" initiative is thus clearly gaining momentum in Belgium.

Delighted with the success of the "Smart Cities & Sustainable Development" programme, EIB Vice-President Pim van Ballekom, remarked: "The 'Smart Cities & Sustainable Development' programme is a first for Belgium and also for Europe. It aims to provide real impetus to the 'Smart Cities' initiative so that this approach becomes the new standard for the development of the towns and cities of the future. 'Smart, inclusive and sustainable' projects as advocated by the EU's Europe 2020 strategy will be drivers of growth for these entities for the benefit of their citizens."

Dirk Gyselinck, member of Belfius Bank's Management Board, added: "Regardless of their size, towns have no other choice but to become smart in order to remain attractive. Even though there is no shortage of ideas, projects still run into financing hurdles too often when it comes to putting these ideas into practice. It is precisely to facilitate the implementation of the numerous smart projects throughout the country that are currently in the pipeline or at an embryonic stage that Belfius has developed the 'Smart Cities & Sustainable Development' programme with the EIB."

For further information about the European Investment Bank (EIB) and its climate action approach: www.eib.org.

For further information about Belfius's "Smart Cities" strategy: https://www.belfius.be/smartcities