Urban Renewal in Sittard-Geleen (NL)

The renewal of Burgermeester Lemmenstreet, the original community high street which has lost its function over the years, is the subject of Community Planning in Sittard Geleen’s settlement Lindenheuvel.

As the pilot project for a co-operatively planned urban renewal process this project is subsidised by the Dutch Ministry of Housing VROM. The city authority commissioned John Thompson & Partners and Overes Community Planning to carry out a Community Planning process including participation by landowners, private developers, the Housing Association Zo Wonen, local and professional planners as well as the people living in Lindeheuvel.

As a major public event a Community Planning Weekend (Ontwerpfestival) was held in Lindenheuvel on October 5 and 6 resulting in a comprehensive vision for Burgermeester Lemmenstreet, which was publicly presented on October 11.

Located close to the German and Belgium boarders in the South of the Netherlands, this region is facing an ongoing population decline. Old coal mines that closed down in the 80’s have been replaced by a modern, rapidly growing chemical industry in the neighbourhood of Lindenheuvel which is has become rather disconnected from the people and workforces of Lindenheuvel.

New road links like the Kampstreet have taken the through traffic away from Burgemeester Lemmenstreet whilst also providing access to new smaller businesses along its rear edge. The adjacent peripheral zone of the Chemelot site is currently being re-planned to house more research, business and commercial activities in the future. We think the Burgermeister Lemmenstreet renewal has to be born out of intergrated thinking, with a communication and planning process to link all the neighbouring develoment areas and the existing community itself.

The city of Sittard-Geleen in co-operation with the regional housing association Zo Wonen is preparing to carry out Phase 1 of the renewal plans commencing in January 2006.

→ Download the Informationsflyer here

More information in Dutch (Nederlands)

about the project
→ Ontwerpfestival-Flyer

about the methodology
→ De Bouwplaats Concept