Ensuring Sustainability in Brownfield Revitalisation as PDF

Living and working environment
The intention is to transform the area from an industrial estate into a
residential/office area with an urban living environment. Employment
opportunities remain in the form of a shopping centre of approximately
10,000 m 2 . Business activities are possible in the striking Academy building,
located in the south-east of the area along Groenstraat. Moreover, a
study is being made of the possible uses of the business complex lying
behind this area. The Environmental Profile Process shows that a greater
mix is possible, provided it is correctly planned.
Summary of environmental qualities
A SWOT analysis has been carried out in line with the other spatial
development aspects. The strengths and weaknesses in the environmental
quality of the site have been sketched out in global terms. Wherever
possible, maps were used for the inventory. The most important
conclusions were: extensive soil pollution, plus air and noise pollution from
road traffic renders house-building on the site infeasible without
relocating the most environmentally burdensome enterprises.
On the basis of research and analysis a first selection of relevant environmental
themes and indicators was made for the project. The basic quality and any
possible further-reaching ambitions have been presented per indicator.
Workshop
Map of noise pollution from road traffic
Voltterrein (Source: municipality of Tilburg)
As part of the analysis phase a workshop was organized in which the
environmental agenda for the site was determined. Here the relevant
environmental themes and criteria as well as the environmental issues,
together with the actions, were agreed. Participants included the project
leader, urban developer and experts in the fields of the most important
environmental themes. The programme goals and the environmental
ambitions were tested as to their practicality and feasibility.
Special assignments with a good chance of success for the Voltterrein
area included:
■ Safeguarding a suitable noise quality for the residential area. The goal is
to achieve an acoustic quality that is suited to an urban living
environment. The noise pollution of road traffic, companies and shops
was taken into account. A vital aspect has been the difference between
buildings along the access roads (lively) and in the inner area (quiet). The
profile gives the conditions for both zones.
■ An optimal zoning of both living and working. The challenge was to
continue to combine both functions in the area, and to do so in such a
way that together they improve the liveability in the neighbourhood
without getting in each others’ way. The environmental profile provides
guiding principles for both the shared situating of these functions and
for the unravelling of traffic and loading and unloading. Five types of
mixed use are proposed for the area.
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