Versailles sustainable district contract

Versailles is the 19th district contract in the City of Brussels.

Since September 2021, citizens, local stakeholders, services of the City and of the Logement Bruxellois have been working hand in hand - with the support of the Karbon/Collectif Ipé engineering office - on the coconstruction of an action plan for the Versailles quarter in Neder-Over-Heembeek.

After 9 months of collective work, 5 district committees, 2 general assemblies and numerous meetings on the ground, the draft programme of the Versailles district contract is finally ready. It was officially presented to the neighbourhood committees on 22 March and approved by the Board on 28 April.

It was submitted to a public enquiry from 18 May to 16 June 2022. As the complete basic file was approved by the Government of the Brussels Capital Region in December 2022, the District Contract has been operational since January 2023.

The City of Brussels and the Region are releasing 26 million euros to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants of the Versailles quarter. On the programme:

  • A new centre with facilities of 2,000 m² including various areas: employment, sports, youth and support for parenthood
  • Improvement of public spaces and the green network:
    • Reinforcement and extension of the green corridor
    • Redevelopment of the concrete structures ('dalles')
    • Reallocation of the outdoor sports infrastructure
    • Safe crossing points on the Avenue de Versailles
  • Creating single-parent and intergenerational housing

The Versailles district contract also provides a budget of 2.6 million euros for calls for projects supporting socio-professional integration, youth, urban agriculture, culture, sports and stimulating local, civic and association initiatives.

The perimeter of this district contract focuses on the 'Versailles' social housing complex located on the territory of Neder-Over-Heembeek. It is bounded by the Rue de la Tour Japonaise, Laskouter and Rue de Beyseghem.

Versailles perimeter (PDF, 2.94 MB)

The thematic call for socio-economic projects aims to develop the socio-economic component of the Versailles sustainable district contract programme by selecting projects which will receive financial support for 4 years from 2023. The aim is to strengthen local projects and/or support new actions that correspond to the 9 priority themes defined in the basic programme of the district contract.

The call for projects was launched from 15 June to 10 October 2022. It was addressed to non-profit associations, public utility foundations, social purpose companies, social real estate agencies as well as to the services of the City and the CPAS-OCMW of Brussels, in accordance with article 22 of the Ordinance on Urban Revitalisation of 6 October 2016.

On 10 November 2022, an advisory committee composed of 8 members (a representative of the regional Urban Renewal Directorate, two representatives of 'Logement Bruxellois', the project manager of the Peterbos District Contract in Anderlecht, two resident members of the District Committee as well as two members of the Urban Renewal Unit of the City of Brussels) met to evaluate the applications on the basis of the criteria set out in the participation regulations.

19 winning projects were selected and approved by the Board on 22 December 2022 for a total amount of 2,415,000 euros.

The City of Brussels launches its first edition of 'Made in Versailles'.

What is it?

'Made in Versailles' is an annual call for projects that aims to support and encourage local initiatives. This is done by awarding a grant to residents, associations or schools committed to implementing actions that can have a positive impact on the quality of life and social cohesion in the Versailles quarter.

What kind of project?

An open-air cinema in your neighbourhood? A comedy festival? A book swap or a competition for the most flowery balcony? Whatever the idea of your project, the aim is to enhance conviviality in the Versailles district contract area and highlight the skills and talents of its residents.

Who can participate?

'Made in Versailles' is open to all (groups of) residents, associations or schools in the neighbourhood. People who do not live in the area of the district contract can participate if the project is carried out in partnership with one or more inhabitants of the Versailles quarter.

Steps of the project call

  1. Read the project call regulations (PDF, 427.88 KB).
  2. Make an appointment with the Versailles district contract team (mandatory step). Contact them by phone, e-mail or visit the district office (contact details below).
  3. Complete the application form:
  4. Sign the application form and send it by e-mail to urb.versailles@brucity.be or drop it off at the district office by 29 September 2023.
  5. Present your project orally in October 2023 before a selection committee composed of residents, associations and members of the Versailles district contract team.
  6. Is your project selected? Then carry out your project within 12 months.

If you do not want to submit a project, but just want to be part of the selection committee because you live in the neighbourhood or your association is based there, this is possible as well. Do not hesitate to contact the district contract team.

Flyer - Made in Versailles (PDF, 659.07 KB)

Contact

District office: Avenue de Versailles 130 - 1000 Brussels (open on Wednesdays from 1 pm to 5 pm).

E-mail: urb.versailles@brucity.be

Téléphone:

  • 0490 47 86 50
  • 02 279 30 33

In order to bring this sustainable district contract to a successful conclusion, the City of Brussels involves the residents and actors of the neighborhood throughout the process thanks to the creation of a citizens' panel that is part of the 'District Committee', in charge of monitoring the development and implementation of the Versailles sustainable district contract.

In particular, the District Commission has the task of contributing to the definition of the sustainable district contract and guiding the City of Brussels by issuing advice and recommendations as well as by sharing information and knowledge with a common goal: the elaboration of the projects according to the needs of the district.

Do you live in the perimeter of the sustainable district contract? Do you work there? Would you like to be involved in the future of this district, offer your expertise and be a point of contact for the various users?

Then you can still apply to participate in the District Commission of Versailles. Don't hesitate to contact the Versailles District Contract team to submit your application.

How to register?

Register by contacting the Versailles District Contract team directly:

urb.versailles@brucity.be

More info:

General principles of the District Committee (PDF, 161.55 KB) (in French)

The Versailles district contract benefits from a regional subsidy of 12.5 million euros.

The City of Brussels is making an additional 5.8 million euros available to help develop an ambitious programme.

The period from July 2021 to April 2022 was devoted to the preparation of the basic programme, which includes a diagnosis of the neighbourhood, the identification of priorities and an action plan. An Environmental Impact Report was also carried out in parallel in order to study the impact of the programme on the environment of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood. Various meetings and exchanges (workshops, exploratory walks, meetings, interviews,...) were organised with the inhabitants, services and associations throughout the year.

The programme was approved by the Brussels Capital Region in December 2022.

The implementation of the programme started in January 2023 and will last until about 2028/2029.

The publications of the Versailles district contract are only available in Dutch and French.

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Versailles sustainable district contract

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