Brussels Parliament approves ‘agent of change’ principle
The Spatial Planning Committee of the Brussels Parliament today gave the green light to the ‘agent of change’ principle, an amendment to the Spatial Planning Code and the Brussels Housing Code which is particularly intended to benefit nightlife. According to this principle, anyone who moves in next to an existing nightclub or concert venue must take measures themselves to limit the resulting noise nuisance. “In this way, we prevent a single new neighbour from causing the closure of an institution like the Fuse in the future,” says Pascal Smet, group leader for Vooruit.brussels, who submitted the proposal together with Anne-Charlotte d’Ursel (MR). The proposal will now be discussed during the plenary meeting on 22 May.
Brussels' nightlife has been under pressure for a long time, with several well-known nightclubs such as Spirito and La Cabane recently having to close their doors. Club owners had previously sounded the alarm, fearing that the Brussels club scene is largely in danger of disappearing if measures are not taken quickly. There was also the case of Fuse, one of Brussels' best-known nightclubs, which had to close for a period after complaints about noise pollution. These came from a neighbour who had recently moved in.
“So that won't be able to happen anymore in the future.”, says Pascal Smet, faction leader of Vooruit.brussels in the Brussels Parliament and initiator of the proposal. “This is an important step in protecting the nightlife in the capital city. It is part of Brussels” DNA and gives our city national and international appeal and radiance. It cannot be that someone who moves in next door to a nightclub that has been established there for 30 years can then cause the club to close due to noise nuisance. That is the world turned upside down.”
Matters of good governance
That is why Smet, together with Anne-Charlotte d’Ursel (MR), submitted a proposal for an ordinance. The intention was to incorporate the ‘agent of change’ principle into the Spatial Planning Code and the Brussels Housing Code.
“The principle is simple,” says the Vooruit parliamentary group leader, “Whoever causes the change bears the responsibility. If you move in next to an existing club, you must take measures against noise nuisance. But the same applies in the reverse direction: a new nightclub must respect its neighbours and ensure that they do not suffer from its activities. That is the very logic and a matter of good governance.”
The proposal specifically targets ‘clubbing’. Temporary outdoor installations or events, such as the South Fair for example, are not included. Furthermore, there is also a urban planning aspect: the proposal also stipulates that anyone building new construction or undertaking a major renovation of a building to convert it into residential use or a hotel, within a perimeter of 20 metres around an existing nightclub, will be notified that there may be noise nuisance at that location.
“The so-called ‘agent of change’ principle, which already exists in London, for example, is truly progressive. The last to establish themselves bears the responsibility: this helps to find a balance between the quality of life for local residents and the protection of nightlife and clubs, which contribute to Brussels” appeal., says Anne-Charlotte d’Ursel (MR), the first co-signatory of the proposal.
Necessary measure
“With this measure alone, we will not save Brussels” nightlife, but just like classifying it as intangible heritage, it is an important step in the right direction. It is a necessary measure, but not the only one that will have to be taken," Pascal Smet concludes.