Ninove – The city of Ninove plans to relocate its technical services to the Door Noord industrial estate at a cost of €4.5 million for a site of 30,000 square meters. Critics like Stijn Vander Elst express concerns about potential job losses, while Alderman Werner Somers cites a lack of viable alternatives, reports 24brussels.
As reported by VRT News, the decision to shift the municipality’s technical services has sparked debate among local politicians and community members. Vander Elst of Positief Ninove highlights that the proposed site is the most expensive commercial land in the city.
“At 150 euros per square meter for a 30,000-square-meter site, the city would spend about 4.5 million euros,”
Vander Elst emphasized the financial implications of the project.
What is the impact of Ninove’s €4.5M technical services move?
Two major companies had concrete plans to develop the land in question. These companies would have invested the same €4.5 million and created between 100 and 200 jobs. With the city’s decision to purchase the land, these private initiatives are now suspended. Experts warn that this pause could hinder industrial growth and limit new employment opportunities in Ninove.
Alderman Werner Somers (Forza Ninove) responded to the opposition’s concerns regarding the relocation. He stated that the city had commissioned a comprehensive site study, which indicated that no short-term alternatives were presently available.
Somers further criticized the opposition’s estimates, clarifying that some of the land being discussed either belongs to private owners or is under the control of Solva. Vander Elst continues to call for effective solutions. She insists that the city must address the issue promptly to ensure uninterrupted operations of the technical services.
“Let’s look for another suitable location with an open mind and across party lines,”
Vander Elst advocates for collaboration in finding an alternative location that does not compromise the city’s finances.
“The technical department absolutely deserves a new, better location, but not if it means mortgaging the city’s coffers,”
The discussion regarding the relocation of Ninove’s technical services initiated in early 2025, when officials began exploring the possibility of moving to Door Noord. Opposition parties raised concerns over both the costs and the potential revenue from selling existing land in February 2025.
By April 2025, the city had commissioned a site study to investigate relocation alternatives, which determined that no short-term options were feasible. Complications over land ownership, including parcels held by private entities and Solva, have further stalled the plans, prompting aldermen to consider both the financial implications and the effective utilization of the existing site.
