In 2020, the City of Ostend launched a strategy to speed up the circular transition as part of the Climate Action Plan “Leefbaar Oostende” 2050. Encouraging and attracting circular construction entrepreneurship is one of the pillars.
Directing circular construction
While inspiring regional partners, Ostend is involved in the Circular Flanders Agenda, defining the municipality as a director of circular construction, together with Belgium universities. This results, for example, in models for circular building purchases, decisions on renovation versus demolition etc. The city has strengthened its toolbox in circular building and construction, screening urban building ordinance and planning to accelerate the transition and the future adaptability of buildings in the context of circular thinking.
Within the regional Circular Hub, the city is working closely with the private sector (mainly SMEs) to build circular business models in the construction sector.
Education, coaching, advice
As partner in CTB, Ostend will contribute best practices and frontrunner knowledge regarding the local and regional action planning process to create roadmaps for transition in a quintuple helix context. The city will work with Flemish educational programmes on circular construction and invest in the training of renovation coaches on this subject.
Moreover, Ostend will provide circular advice during the energetic renovation of buildings co-owned by multiple private homeowners as well as knowledge on digital platforms, physical hubs and (EU) labels for circular building. This partner will also contribute and expand on methods to map reusable construction waste (Recuplan and Flanders Circular) and the added value of using BIM in Urban Mining.
Upscaling to systemaic change
Circular construction is a political priority in Ostend - pilots and an action plan are being worked out, with a view to scaling up to a system change and potentially a Digital Twin. To accomplish all this, transnational insights into implementation, standards, toolboxes, etc. is required. A systemic implementation of circular building principles requires EU standards, tools and regulations and Ostend sees the urgency to increase demand and supply confidence in this.
Kristof Verhoest, Grant Officer.
The CTB Ostend Team
Through CTB, Ostend can improve monitoring of material footprint reduction, improve its circular building action plan (together with regional stakeholders) and, in close cooperation with partners from Roeselare, will form a coalition of like-minded parties to sign regional deals on this theme.
Olivier De Buck, Circular Economy Officer