by Shane Henson — April 10, 2013—BRE (formerly Building Research Establishment) has announced that its BREEAM environmental design and assessment method will be used by Blue Gate Antwerp’s management to transform a contaminated industrial site into an eco-business park under the BREEAM Communities designation.
Blue Gate Antwerp is a brownfield site to the south of the city center. Formerly a busy industrial dockland area based on petroleum and other industries, the area suffers from heavy contamination, flood risk, uneven ground and a lack of public transport, says BRE. It is being redeveloped in collaboration with the Flemish region into an eco-effective business park. Thanks to its modern infrastructure and easy access, the city is the perfect hub for the Low Countries, as well as the rest of Western Europe, BRE adds.
The Blue Gate Antwerp industrial site comprises three large sections. A 13-hectare logistics area will be located on the banks of the River Scheldt. It will consist of a cluster quay, smart logistics companies and a city-regional water-related distribution center. Behind it lies a 26-hectare area with room for high-end production and research and development facilities. A 14.5-hectare green corridor will connect the site to the Hobokense Polder nature reserve.
“We aim to turn this site right around from a place of environmental degradation to a model for the city’s future sustainable development and economic success,” says Guido Muelenaer, project manager, Blue Gate Antwerp. “We will make extensive use of renewable energy, sustainable materials, alternative transport systems, waste reduction and recycling strategies. Using the BREEAM Communities scheme will help us to effectively manage and optimize the wide range of complex sustainability issues involved in delivering the project.”
BRE has drawn up a set of custom assessment criteria for the project, which will take into account the circumstances and priorities of the site, the city and the region. This certification will provide valuable lessons for any other projects in the Flanders region that wish to undergo a BREEAM Communities assessment, says BRE.
