Published on 05-03-2026

SVK Site Sint-Niklaas

SVK Site Becomes Strategic Lever for Healthy Urban Development in Sint-Niklaas

The site is one of the largest brownfield sites in Flanders. A Flemish Brownfield Covenant is currently being drawn up for the redevelopment. With this, the Flemish Government committed to redeveloping contaminated industrial sites instead of creating new open space. The City of Sint-Niklaas appointed the design team to develop a spatial framework for SVK North and South and to elaborate a master plan for SVK North. For SVK South, Omgeving is involved as the design firm.

Remediation and landscape as the foundation

The extensive remediation forms the starting point of the development. Remediation strategies and development scenarios are being developed in parallel, ensuring that safety and future use are aligned from the outset. Soil restoration will be linked to landscape interventions. Green spaces and water will not only form an ecological structure, but also provide the foundation for climate adaptation, social interaction, and quality of life.

“Here we are making an unhealthy part of the city healthy again. By starting with soil, water and greenery, landscape becomes the carrier of new urban quality.”
— Michiel van Driessche, founder of Felixx

From industrial enclave to healthy urban neighborhood

For over a century, the site of the former Scheerders Van Kerchove (SVK) was a place of production and employment, but also of an asbestos past that is part of the collective memory of an industrial period and its impact on the community. Today, this site offers the opportunity to transform a closed industrial enclave into an open urban district that will guide the city’s continued growth. It will provide space for housing, work and high-quality public spaces, while ensuring that it's history is given a visible and respectful place.

“SVK is a key project for the city and region. Here we can rebalance living and working, with a healthy living environment as a starting point.”
— Han Dijk, partner at PosadMaxwan

The Healthy City as framework for connection and renewal

The redevelopment starts from the ambition of the Healthy City. Public space, mobility, heritage and rehabilitation together form the framework for a future-proof neighborhood. The site lies at a pivotal point between the city and the open landscape. By making water structures visible again and strengthening a cohesive green-blue network, a new ecological backbone is created for Sint-Niklaas.

“With respect for the past and heritage, we are building a new city district with a special character and distinct identity: an urban landscape of memory.”
— Johan De Wachter, founder of Woonwerk Architecten

At the same time, the plan builds on the economic identity of the site: SVK North can grow into an urban hub for living, making and entrepreneurship, while SVK South offers space for larger work functions within a landscape framework.

This selection marks the beginning of the next phase for the SVK site: a carefully remediated, healthy urban development that can grow into one of the most meaningful reconversion projects in Flanders.

Sint-Niklaas is taking a significant step in the redevelopment of the former SVK site. Felixx, PosadMaxwan, Woonwerk and Deltalab have been selected to design the transformation of the 133-hectare site. Following the cessation of activities on the site in early 2025, the focus now shifts entirely to remediation and the phased redevelopment of this strategic site in Belgium. The city is leading the process in collaboration with owner Stones NV and is developing a clear framework to guide design, research and collaboration. The site is one of the largest brownfield sites in Flanders. A Flemish Brownfield Covenant is currently being drawn up for the redevelopment. With this, the Flemish Government committed to redeveloping contaminated industrial sites instead of creating new open space. The City of Sint-Niklaas appointed the design team to develop a spatial framework for SVK North and South and to elaborate a master plan for SVK North. For SVK South, Omgeving is involved as the design firm. Remediation and landscape as the foundation The extensive remediation forms the starting point of the development. Remediation strategies and development scenarios are being developed in parallel, ensuring that safety and future use are aligned from the outset. Soil restoration will be linked to landscape interventions. Green spaces and water will not only form an ecological structure, but also provide the foundation for climate adaptation, social interaction, and quality of life. “Here we are making an unhealthy part of the city healthy again. By starting with soil, water and greenery, landscape becomes the carrier of new urban quality.”— Michiel van Driessche, founder of Felixx From industrial enclave to healthy urban neighborhood For over a century, the site of the former Scheerders Van Kerchove (SVK) was a place of production and employment, but also of an asbestos past that is part of the collective memory of an industrial period and its impact on the community. Today, this site offers the opportunity to transform a closed industrial enclave into an open urban district that will guide the city’s continued growth. It will provide space for housing, work and high-quality public spaces, while ensuring that it's history is given a visible and respectful place. “SVK is a key project for the city and region. Here we can rebalance living and working, with a healthy living environment as a starting point.”— Han Dijk, partner at PosadMaxwan The Healthy City as framework for connection and renewal The redevelopment starts from the ambition of the Healthy City. Public space, mobility, heritage and rehabilitation together form the framework for a future-proof neighborhood. The site lies at a pivotal point between the city and the open landscape. By making water structures visible again and strengthening a cohesive green-blue network, a new ecological backbone is created for Sint-Niklaas. “With respect for the past and heritage, we are building a new city district with a special character and distinct identity: an urban landscape of memory.”— Johan De Wachter, founder of Woonwerk Architecten At the same time, the plan builds on the economic identity of the site: SVK North can grow into an urban hub for living, making and entrepreneurship, while SVK South offers space for larger work functions within a landscape framework. This selection marks the beginning of the next phase for the SVK site: a carefully remediated, healthy urban development that can grow into one of the most meaningful reconversion projects in Flanders.