Development of sustainable, green-blue residential area in Heist-op-den-berg

Property developer Danneels and the municipality of Heist-op-den-Berg share a vision of sustainable development and strive for a future-proof environment. To achieve this, they have an ambitious goal in mind: minimum paving and maximum green experience. This calls for the construction of a green-blue network, with a balanced ratio of developed and undeveloped space. To supply a new residential area with renewable energy, they also opted for a district heating network.

In addition, they wanted to pay more attention to creating green spaces, such as the construction of a large park. These green elements not only contribute to an attractive living environment, but also have positive effects on biodiversity and the well-being of residents.

Antea Group played an important role in designing a green-blue network, namely a green and wetland area. The result is a large central park with several wadis, where rainwater has a chance to soak into the ground. Where paths and residential areas proved unavoidable, permeable concrete paving stones were chosen so that water can infiltrate well into the soil there too.

We are also working hard to realise a district heating network, avoiding fossil fuels as much as possible. This heat network will serve as a renewable energy source and will supply hot water to the 19 single-family houses and 56 multi-family houses that will be built in the first phase of the project.

The project thus not only provides attractive housing opportunities, but also contributes to the conservation of nature and the reduction of CO2 emissions.

Antea Group is committed to sustainable and environmentally friendly development, with green spaces and water management at its core. But of course we don't do this alone. The development of the area is a product of four years of intensive cooperation with the various stakeholders:

• Project developer Danneels who drew up the master plan for this development
• Municipality of Heist-op-den-berg with whom we collaborated to design the public domain and went through the permit process
• Van Marcke Engineering whom we advised in designing the district heating network
• Pidpa as sewer manager with whom we jointly designed the separate sewer system and rainwater infiltration system with wadis
• Contractor Hegrola who, under the supervision of Antea Group, carried out the district heating network, sewerage and environmental construction work