Belgium/Schaerbeek's Place de la Reine to be redeveloped

Planning permission for the redevelopment of Place de la Reine in Schaerbeek has been granted, announced Ans Persoons, Brussels Secretary of State for Town Planning and Heritage, on Friday.

With its roughly triangular plan and dominated by the Sainte-Marie church, Place de la Reine connects Rue Royale and Rue Royale Sainte-Marie. Rue des Palais runs alongside it to the west, and Chaussée de Haecht to the east.

The plan is to improve the quality of public spaces, ensure greater greenery, comfort and safety for pedestrians and cyclists, and improve public transport accessibility in this area of high historical and heritage value.

The ambition is to breathe new life into this currently under-used square, to give it back a centrality. "Large terraces, play and relaxation areas, and shaded zones will make the Place de la Reine a new living space for the neighborhood and the people of Schaerbeek," explains Ans Persoons.

In concrete terms, the square in front of the Royal Church of Sainte-Marie, which has been listed since 1983, will become a central meeting zone. Attention has been paid to the inclusiveness of all publics, with appropriate lighting and furniture (benches, games, drinking water fountain, etc.).

In the square, sidewalks will be widened and separated from the roadway by low plantings. All existing trees will be preserved. Existing public transport stops, currently scattered around the square, will be grouped together on rue Royale, between rue Cornet de Grez and rue de la Poste.

source: www.rtbf.be/