Buur&Berg

The ambitious urban renewal project Buur&Berg received an environmental permit from the province of Limburg on May 16. This project comes on the foundations of the former Sint-Anna Hospital in the heart of Sint-Truiden. It is an important milestone in the urban development of the region.

The redevelopment of the site began in 2012 as a pilot project called Invisible Care. Four care partners (Sint-Trudo Hospital, Integro, Wiric and Ferm Thuiszorg) signed a cooperation agreement in 2019 to jointly shape this unique residential project in the heart of Sint-Truiden. Later, De Hummeltjes joined the project. In 2022, the complete redevelopment of the site was entrusted to the private developer Kairos.

Buur & Berg is a development of a unique new district in the center of Sint-Truiden, on the site of the former Sint-Anna Hospital. A contemporary mixed-use project will be built with a diverse range of spacious, stylish and sustainable housing units and various neighborhood support functions such as a community center, studios and a daycare center, among others.

Environmental Permit

Inge Moors (CD&V), member of the Provincial Executive responsible for spatial planning: "After an intensive period of constructive dialogue between private and public partners, the deputation was able to issue a permit for the realization of a building program consisting of an underground parking lot, 113 apartments, 11 town houses, 11 assisted living apartments, 53 care rooms, 16 adapted accommodations for people with disabilities, day workshops for people with disabilities, 5 commercial spaces, 3 spaces for liberal professions, a local service center and a daycare center. The project area is very centrally located on Abdijstraat, Stenaertberg and Clement Cartuyvelsstraat in the heart of Sint-Truiden. In its decision, the deputation followed the unanimously favorable advice of the POVC (Provincial Environment Permit Committee) and issued the environmental permit. The positive opinion of the POVC was substantiated on the basis of the positive opinions of the College of Mayor and Aldermen of Sint-Truiden and the other departments involved."

Unique district

Ingrid Kempeneers, Mayor of Sint-Truiden : "Buur&Berg will be a lively part of a warm neighborhood where everyone can live, work, enjoy, ... Buur&Berg is going for a positive and inclusive future where 'living well' is central. The various building volumes of Neighbor&Berg will be surrounded by car-free connections for pedestrians and cyclists. The site will be accessible to the public with beautiful green interior areas that focus on biodiversity and water management. The three surrounding streets will each have a cozy new neighborhood square that brings peace and air to the downtown area, within walking distance of the Grand Place."

There will also be ample underground parking for both cars and bicycles for residents and visitors. Ground energy will be used, resulting in an environmentally friendly (without fossil fuels) and energy efficient heating and cooling system. Residents will enjoy comfortable and future-proof homes with limited monthly energy consumption, low CO2 emissions and a positive impact on the climate.

Timing

Luc Vandenhoeck, project manager on behalf of the healthcare partners and Koen Janssen, project manager for Kairos: "With the environmental permit in our pocket, we can now actually get to work. The start of commercialization is planned for September 2024. Construction of Buur&Berg will start in early 2025, to deliver the first homes and facilities in the summer of 2027. We are grateful for the support and cooperation of all parties involved and look forward to building together a neighborhood where everyone feels at home. In short, we are very excited about the future of Buur&Berg and the positive contribution it will make to Sint-Truiden."

Lifetime living

"'Living for life' is often put in the mouth. This project by project developer Kairos, which will realize the project together with Sint-Trudo Hospital, non-profit organization WIRIC, non-profit organization Integro, non-profit organization de Hummeltjes, non-profit organization Ferm Thuiszorg and non-profit organization LDC Buur&Berg, puts its money where its mouth is. And more ... so the former site of the Sint-Anna Hospital gets a new, valuable interpretation." concludes delegate Inge Moors.