It is therefore a matter of defending one’s interests. If the primary goal is in any case to retain as many jobs as possible, the Region might want to favor the people of Brussels. Because who says Brussels, says IPP (personal tax). And several thousand workers living in Brussels would bring several tens of millions of euros into the Region’s coffers. Essential in these lean times.
guillementWorkers who live in Brussels must not need to leave the city or take the train to work in the provinces.”
“All those able to help must be able to combine their forces but I think that the initiative must be from Brussels”David Leisterh (MR), the Brussels trainer, confirms to us.
It was he who asked Pierre Hermant, CEO of Finance&Invest. Brussels and ex-boss of the Auto Show, to work on the file.
“Some imply that the Federal government wants to take over. What it would not do in Liège, what it did not do with Ford Genk… Brussels had to clarify“, tells us a source close to the matter.
The big question of pollution
Contacted, Pierre Hermant replied that “the principle is to identify what we can do. A major buyer who would have saved all the jobs in a lasting way at once, that would have been interesting, but that will not be the case. So while waiting for someone sort of an offer out of his hat, we think about it. The site is very interesting strategically.“, he begins. “But there is a lot of due diligence work to be done (preliminary inventory taking into account all risks, Editor’s note), analysis of the terrain, economic assets and social and especially environmental liabilities”he says.
Only one candidate for Audi Brussels but his project raises questions: “He is a Belgian investor but he has made a reservation”
Because indeed, a site like Audi Brussels, even if it is a “technological flagship” linked to electric cars, it is an industrial site which has previously built thermal models (whether Audi since 2007 or Volkswagen before, the house -mother). So the site has experienced decades of industrial activities, with probable pollution linked to hydrocarbons, oils, paints, solvents, metals or batteries. “It’s a bit of a gray area,” tells us a source preferring to remain anonymous. A challenge which therefore requires guarantees.
guillement“New pollution cannot be ruled out given the continuation of activities (…). It is impossible to predict the cost of treatment”
Contacted, Brussels Environment specifies that Audi Brussels “has been studying soil and groundwater pollution on its site since at least the year 2000, has already treated several, and is still busy treating others today“and that a financial guarantee of 8 million euros has been provided. A guarantee”which could be reviewed in the context of a sale of land or transfer of activities to another operator before the end of the processing. In all cases, a new inventory will have to be carried out“, in view of the age of the previous studies and treatments. “New pollution cannot be ruled out given the continuation of activities“since the last analyses, specifies the body.”It is impossible to predict the cost of the treatment which will follow recognition of the state of the soil; only new studies will be able to inform us about the overall cost of treating pollution on the site.“, concludes Brussels Environment.
Making Brussels residents work
“There is the idea of a model with a mosaic of “pure players” buyers, rather than a single single promoter“, continues Pierre Hermant, who mentions options for cold logistics, e-commerce and others.
“We must consider the Audi site taking into account what is being done on the Brussels Formation side, for the workforce, but also the activity of Brussels Expo for example.”he explains. The Heysel plateau, which is undergoing rapid change, could effectively create an ecosystem conducive to the installation of new activities in Brussels. The Audi Forest site could therefore benefit from this.
And what about housing, with a shortage looming? “Why not. But the priority is to have an industrial site. There are needs. And ultimately, workers who live in Brussels must not need to leave the city or take the train to work in the provinces. This site must therefore be competitive. Let’s prioritize job creation first“, he says. “What is essential is to work in collaboration with the unions as well“, he finishes.
On October 9, a federal task force will look into the matter. Needless to say, the Region will be attentive to this.
