Analysis of a sustainable neighbourhood in Flanders: concept and execution

Abstract

In the frame of the growing attention for sustainable development, an increasing number of municipalities is willing to improve the level of sustainability of their territory and is therefore searching for policy measures to stimulate or even oblige (future) inhabitants to make more sustainable choices. However, in Flanders, Belgium, regional regulations limit the power and freedom of decision of municipalities, such as in the domain of energy performance regulations for buildings. Therefore, municipalities try to develop new concepts for sustainable neighbourhoods that fit within their policy power. This paper presents the analysis of a new concept for a sustainable neighbourhood, developed by the municipality of Diepenbeek, Flanders for the allotment project Dorpheide IV. In order to be able to impose more severe sustainability related requirements than the Flemish regulations, the municipality decided to sell plots in an allotment owned by the municipality, at a lower price, but with specific terms and conditions to increase the sustainability level of the dwellings to be built. The sustainability measures consisted both of conditions on energy performance, rainwater use and infiltration, greenery,... imposed to the buyers and of measures taken by the municipality on the design of the allotment for optimal solar orientation, green zones, local rainwater infiltration, street lighting, mobility, information campaigns, building plan advice, ... The analysis focuses on the level of the neighbourhood as well as on the level of the individual plots. One of the interesting elements in this case is the fact that the new inhabitants of the neighbourhood were initially mainly attracted by the low price of the plot and were in general very little familiar with sustainability aspects. This way, they strongly differ from the more environmentally conscious households that up to now are often the inhabitants of the current sustainable dwellings in Flanders. Therefore, after a presentation of the different measures taken and imposed by the municipality of Diepenbeek for this allotment, also the results of an inventory are presented that analyzed the ways dwellings were designed and executed in order to meet the terms and conditions imposed by the municipality. In addition, the results of a survey of different families are presented and discussed in which information was collected on their positive and negative experiences related to this concept of sustainable neighbourhood and to the role of the municipality.