POM West-Vlaanderen, Stad Menen, and Stad Wervik presented the supplementary transition plan for the Grensland business park on September 28. The plan focuses on the redevelopment of approximately 4.5 kilometers of public road, with an investment of 23.5 million euros. This aims to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians, create more space for greenery and water, and commence works in 2028–2029.
The Grensland business park suffered from outdated infrastructure, a lack of water retention capacity, and underutilized potential for energy and water transport. The transition plan consolidates measures to address these bottlenecks, including the renewal of public spaces, interventions at companies, and joint solutions for energy, parking, and water management.
The road redevelopment will enhance traffic safety, with particular attention to cyclists and pedestrians. There will be more space allocated for green areas and water retention, benefiting both traffic safety and water management. The renovation targets road infrastructure, shared spaces between businesses, and the site's relationship with its surroundings. Businesses will be closely involved to leverage additional opportunities.
Through approved ERDF projects like Klimaboost, concrete interventions are also being prepared for companies including Dekeyzer, Vertexco, Berry-Alloc, and Mirom Menen. These measures involve soil sealing reduction, greening, green roofs, underground water buffers, and swales to temporarily store rainwater and promote soil infiltration, thereby reducing susceptibility to waterlogging. These pilot projects represent a joint investment of 1 million euros.
The plan also explores opportunities for collaboration in energy, such as shared charging facilities and consolidated parking spaces. The waterside location is being considered for a shared quay by 2050, providing more businesses with access to water transport.
WVI will work with partners and the business park association in 2026–2027 on an implementation dossier for the public domain redevelopment. Following technical and financial elaboration, a subsidy application will be submitted to VLAIO. The intended start of works is 2028–2029, contingent on further development and funding. An implementation plan will outline the follow-up of actions, with initial coordination by POM West-Vlaanderen.
VLAIO, POM West-Vlaanderen, and Provincie West-Vlaanderen are co-financing the plan's preparation. Specialized study bureaus have developed the proposals, while companies contributed their needs through the business park association Platform Grensland Menen-Wervik. The association remains involved in the implementation.
Grensland is one of the selected sites within POM West-Vlaanderen's 'Business Parks of the Future' concept, alongside locations such as Avelgem, Brugge Blauwe Toren, and Kortrijk Noord. The plans consistently focus on sustainable solutions for space utilization, water, mobility, ecology, and collaboration, taking into account site-specific characteristics.
