Flemish cities and municipalities sell 1.8bn euros worth of assets
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Flemish cities and municipalities intend to sell 1.8 billion euros’ worth of public property in the coming years as they grapple with tightening budgets and growing financial pressures. An analysis of municipal multi-year plans by De Standaard shows that many local councils are putting land and buildings on the market and are increasingly looking at privatisation or outsourcing of services to balance their books.
To aim for healthy budgetary positions by 2031, municipalities have identified substantial asset sales. The total represents a 22 per cent increase compared with the previous administrative term, or more than 300 million euros in additional projected income from disposals of municipal buildings and plots of land.
Historic buildings
Among the properties earmarked for sale are notable civic assets such as the historic town hall in Bruges and the library in Kinrooi. Ghent’s administration has drawn up a list of more than 100 properties to be sold, rented, converted into social housing or leased. In Schilde, a church is being put on the market, while Mechelen tops the list with around 124 million euros’ worth of property earmarked for disposal.
De Standaard reports that these measures are driven “out of necessity and with finances in mind”, noting that councils face rising costs and limited fiscal headroom to meet growing demand for public services.
Local authorities are also turning to the private sector to provide services previously managed in-house, including cleaning, green-space maintenance and the operation of swimming pools. Such moves are reflected in multi-year plans that flag a marked increase in outsourcing and corporatisation, as councils seek not only to raise one-off revenue from sales but also to reduce ongoing expenditure.
"This isn’t about quick fixes; we need long-term planning if we are to use our built heritage responsibly while safeguarding services for residents"
One municipal official cited in De Standaard said: “We are forced to look at our patrimony differently because traditional revenue streams are no longer sufficient to sustain essential services.”
Another councillor noted that selling or repurposing assets must be accompanied by a broader strategic approach: “This isn’t about quick fixes; we need long-term planning if we are to use our built heritage responsibly while safeguarding services for residents.”
#FlandersNewsService | Mechelen's historic centre © PHOTO BELGIAN FREELANCE
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