The City of Leuven wants to transform Constantin Meunier street and the surrounding neighbourhood into a veritable climate street. By combining various different interventions, the project aims to create a whole greater than the sum of its parts. The city is currently investigating the possibility of providing residents with renewable heat through a heat network, as well as whether the construction of this heat grid can be timed in accordance with the planned urban greening and repaving of the street. Although the heat grid itself is still in the feasibility study phase, the greening and repaving of the street will continue as planned. A test set-up of the urban greening works can already be viewed.
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Who takes part?
Who are all the partners in the project?
Role of Leuven 2030?
In this breakthrough project we assume the following role(s):
Place in the Roadmap?
This breakthrough project is part of the following programmes of the Roadmap:
How does it work?
Since September 2021, Constantin Meunier street has been a pilot location within the Horizon2020 project ‘JUSTNature’. In consultation with local residents, the street is being remodelled with ambitious plans for urban greening, water infiltration and energy.
The same street is also a part of the ‘Pilot Cities’ project in which the city of Leuven investigates what is needed to roll out heat networks quickly across the city. The project aims to address practical questions concerning financing, supply and demand, ownership and supporting policy. Test cases and pilot projects, such as in C. Meunier street, will help answer these questions.
The planned repaving of Constantin Meunier street and Emile Mathieu street offers a great opportunity to make the neighbourhood climate-proof by combining various interventions:
- Heat grid: a fifth-generation heat grid uses local, renewable energy sources such as geothermal energy, and can be rolled out in a modular fashion. This will allow nearly 300 households to be gradually connected tot he heat grid.
- Urban greening and de-paving: during the remodelling of the street, space will be created for green infrastructure and increased permeability of the ground. The street will also be fitted with a new sewage system.
- Mobility: a test set-up assesses whether one-way traffic adds value for the neighbourhood. The effect of the test set-up is being closely monitored, and strategically placed planting beds improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians. More shared cars bicycles reduce the number of private cars parked in the area.
- Circularity: city of Leuven is investigating how to maximise using existing materials for the remodelling of the street. The test set-up is also constructed with recovered materials, such as broken up curb stones and wooden infrastructure, by Atelier Circuler.
'Atelier Meunier' kicks off, focusing on citizen participation around depaving
The JUSTNature test set-up is designed and implemented in phases
The sustainable heat project is introduced to local residents
Technical-financial feasability study of the heat grid
Residents survey about renovation and interest in heat grids
Next steps are determined based on the outcomes of the feasability study
Redesign of street infrastructure based on evaluation of the test set-up
Introduction of the new design (JUST)Nature
Start of the street reconstruction, depending on the outcome of the heat grid feasability study
'Atelier Meunier' kicks off, focusing on citizen participation around depaving
The JUSTNature test set-up is designed and implemented in phases
The sustainable heat project is introduced to local residents
Technical-financial feasability study of the heat grid
Residents survey about renovation and interest in heat grids
Next steps are determined based on the outcomes of the feasability study
Redesign of street infrastructure based on evaluation of the test set-up
Introduction of the new design (JUST)Nature
Start of the street reconstruction, depending on the outcome of the heat grid feasability study
Why is this project important?
This project combines several ingredients to achieve a stronger result. By adding urban greening and water permeability in public spaces, and linking these public works to energy, mobility and buildings, we achieve an integrated, better result with more benefits for all.
A heat network protects residents on C. Meunier street from fluctuating fossil fuel prices and makes their homes ready for 2050 by providing fossil-free heating.
Curbing concrete and adding green spaces improves both air quality and residents' well-being, reduces heat stress and particulate matter, and promotes biodiversity. De-paving allows rainwater to penetrate underground, replenishing groundwater reserves and protecting our city from flooding.
Tackling several interventions at once limits inconvenience for residents and makes implementation more efficient. This integrated approach ensures a sustainable, attractive and healthy neighbourhood for everyone. Pooling knowledge in a central database will help to better implement these plans.
Het JUSTNature-project krijgt financiële steun van Horizon 2020, een onderzoeks- en innovatieprogramma van de Europese Unie (GA No 101003757).
Het Pilot Cities-project krijgt financiële steun van NetZeroCities binnen Horizon 2020, een onderzoeks- en innovatieprogramma van de Europese Unie (GA No 101036519).
The path of the past couple of months