See II.2.4)

In recent years, a great deal of separate research has been conducted for the Centrum-Zuid and Europark business parks in Houthalen-Helchteren and the De Schacht business parks in Heusden-Zolder. From these studies (LET-South master plan, OSA-KUL study work, Back in Omloop pilot project, Europark revitalization study, RUP Mijngebied Regional section, [...]) it is clear that there is a need for a revitalization project in which cooperation and interaction between the business parks and new restructuring models are being restructured.

In the meantime, the complex project North-South Limburg (CP NZL) is also being commissioned by De Werkvennootschap and the Environment Department, conceived as an “integrated project” with social added value as its commitment. In other words, new mobility for the region is being considered simultaneously, as are transformations of the urban system, including the business parks, in order to be able to realize great social added value. By creating smart connections, win-win situations arise and there is less and less an infrastructure project and more and more a regional project. That is why, within the exploratory research NZL, the problems of the three business parks and possible assignments are discussed extensively in the Ambition Memo North-South Limburg, namely ambition 5: “From a clear profile, North-South Limburg strengthens the future possibilities for the business parks and organizes better accessibility and spatial embedding. ” For this reason, the study “Area management industrial parks Houthalen-Helchteren and Heusden-Zolder” has also been included in the Profits of the complex project North-South Limburg, whereby initiatives are already being taken in advance of the final project that are already being implemented in the short term. to some of the project's ambitions.

Broadening the assignment of an infrastructure project to a regional project also implies a different view of its realization. Creating added value in the wider region should convince and encourage other stakeholders to take initiative as partners as well. During the further research, which will eventually lead to a preferred alternative, it is therefore not only necessary to find an answer to what the question is. Who is responsible for this and how this is done will also have to be clarified. The results of the present area management can certainly contribute to this.

The project “Area management business parks Houthalen-Helchteren / Heusden-Zolder” therefore aims to combine and support the ambitions of the municipalities and the complex project North-South Limburg by jointly and integrated research into the future and realization possibilities of the business parks in Houthalen- Helchteren and Heusden-Zolder. It aims to initiate actions that benefit the desired identity and / or restructuring of each site separately, as well as give a clearer view to the lively activity in the entire environment of the North-South Limburg connection. This project is therefore developed and coordinated in close interaction between the municipalities, stakeholders - such as the province and POM - and the Werkvennootschap. To give shape to this collaboration, interviews were held in the various business parks in the past year and several workshops have already taken place in July and September.

The start-up of the complex project North-South Limburg offered and will continue to offer a unique opportunity in the future to join forces to provide step-by-step insight into the possibilities of suitable access, economic revitalization and spatial embedding of the relevant existing sites and, if desired, to realise.

We define liveliness of a company [...] (see engagement documents).