Ensuring Sustainability in Brownfield Revitalisation as PDF

The Process
Many environmental goals do not arise from legal obligations but from
future-oriented improvement opportunities. Stakeholders must therefore
be informed about new possibilities and opportunities and to be convinced
as to their usefulness and necessity. Tilburg uses the environmental profile
to make the following aspects clear in spatial development projects:
a) The relevant environmental quality criteria
In the Environmental Profile Process the municipality presents the
applicable legal and municipal environmental criteria in a clear way.
Tilburg’s environmental policy, for example, contains ten themes
that have to be taken into account during city planning
developments: water, green areas and nature, mobility, use of
space, noise, air, soil, external safety, energy and waste. The
environmental profile makes clear which of these environmental
aspects are relevant for the project in question.
b) The accents in opportunities and tasks
The same (high) levels of environmental quality cannot and need not
be attained everywhere. Selectivity is considered necessary. Thus,
in the Environmental Profile Process, special attention is given to
the critical feasibility test for environmental ambitions. In this
context the added value of the environmental goals for the plan
have to be made clear to the parties involved. The co-operation of
all development partners is essential for achieving these goals that
often exceed legislation requirements. One of the innovative tools
that are used in this process is that of imagery. Images of new
technologies and successful projects aim to stimulate the relevant
planners and stakeholders to advance their thinking beyond merely
complying with the minimum legal requirements. Development
parties may be persuaded by pointing out the ease of use and how
these have been applied elsewhere as well as showing the cost
savings that can be achieved. The Environmental Profile Process
serves the municipality during the various project phases by giving
an attractive view of the environmental opportunities and tasks.
c) The activities and agreements
When environmental opportunities are identified in a project, there
is still often a long way to go before they can be agreed upon and
implemented. Agreements are thus important, including feasibility
studies, variation studies, etc., as well as agreements about the
way in which the intended environmental quality level can be
guaranteed. It is advisable for purposes of continuity that all
agreements are recorded. Points of departure, preconditions and
parties may change, and parts of the plan may be altered or
highlighted during the development stage. That means that the
environmental profile has a progressive nature and is not static.
Design for Living
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