01 Oct '18

New uses for large farms

8273
door Gerard Hautekeur
Various municipal authorities in the Rand and Pajottenland are looking for new ways of using large empty farms. Particularly in view of the high demand for multi-family dwellings and co-housing.

Up until recently, farms in agricultural areas could be redeployed only through the Land-use Plan or if they enjoyed listed monument status. A third option is now available thank to the so-called Instrument Decree introduced in July 2018 to allow new, more flexible opportunities for the functional design of farm buildings in agricultural areas. As an example, the Hof te Mergelingen square farm in Gooik is currently being converted into holiday homes.