Industrial land scarcity threatens Bruges and Westhoek regions

Industrial land availability is reaching critical levels in the Bruges and Westhoek regions of Belgium. According to Voka West-Vlaanderen, available business land is nearly exhausted, making expansions or adjustments for companies almost impossible.

Bert Mons, a delegated administrator for Voka, warned that without rapid intervention, the province may have no free hectares left within two years. While the Flemish government's draft spatial plan acknowledges a need for approximately 62 hectares of additional economic space annually in West Flanders, Voka emphasizes that this space must be physically available to prevent a slowdown in investments, jobs, and economic growth. Currently, only about 50 hectares are directly available, and the total need in the region is estimated at 1,563 hectares by 2050.