Maasmechelen

Nieuwe Bunders is a future business park in Maasmechelen.

It is situated opposite the existing Oude Bunders business park, along the national highway and near the E314 junctions.

The greatest asset of this location is its strategic position. Nieuwe Bunders offers direct connections to Flanders, Liège, Dutch Limburg, and Germany’s Ruhr region.

How this came about

The Nieuwe Bunders project had a long lead-up phase. In 2013, the area was rezoned as a regional business park through the Provincial Spatial Implementation Plan (PRUP) “Demarcation of the Small Urban Area of Maasmechelen.” A PRUP defines the designated use, development, and management of an area.

In 2015, POM Limburg, in consultation with the municipality of Maasmechelen, developed a master plan outlining the development opportunities for the business park. The Maasmechelen municipal council approved this master plan on 5 July 2016.

On 20 December 2019, a cooperation agreement followed between the municipality of Maasmechelen, POM Limburg, LRM, and a private developer holding a significant number of land positions. Since then, the partners have been working together on the realization of Nieuwe Bunders.

The acquisition of the land and the environmental procedures subsequently took several years. Today, the project is gradually moving closer to implementation.

The role of POM Limburg

Within the Nieuwe Bunders project, POM Limburg is an important development partner. Through this project, POM aims to contribute to additional high-quality space for economic activity in Limburg. This space is needed for companies that want to grow, invest, and create jobs in the region.

POM Limburg’s role aligns with its broader mission to strengthen the Limburg economy by developing, redeveloping, and qualitatively shaping business parks with a future-oriented vision.

More specifically, POM Limburg is responsible for, among other things:

The amicable acquisition of land within the project area as the expropriating authority and development agency, and, where necessary, through judicial expropriation;
Administrative and legal actions related to land acquisition;
Monitoring the qualitative, timely, and complete development of the project area, from planning to realization and allocation, with a focus on the economic added value for Limburg.

The business park should not only create additional space, but also be developed in a sustainable, accessible, and future-oriented manner.

The private developer is responsible for the access infrastructure, equipment, and realization of the project area. The municipal authority of Maasmechelen safeguards the interests of its residents, entrepreneurs, and the municipality. LRM mainly takes on an advisory role within the consultation and allocation committee.

Future-Proof Business Park

Nieuwe Bunders will become a 74-hectare regional business park aimed at larger companies. The project area consists of four zones:

Zone 1: Droogweide South — approximately 17 hectares
Zone 2: Droogweide North — approximately 12 hectares
Zone 3: Steenbunders — approximately 18 hectares
Zone 4: Breemakker — approximately 16 hectares

According to the PRUP, plots starting from 5,000 m² are planned. SMEs and Seveso companies — businesses that produce, use, store, or process large quantities of hazardous substances, involving an increased risk of major industrial accidents — will not be permitted.

The development of Nieuwe Bunders is based on quality and sustainability. The project focuses on high-performance utility facilities, modern infrastructure, and a minimum building density of 50 percent. Mobility also receives significant attention. New access roads and safe cycling infrastructure are intended to keep heavy traffic out of the village centre of Opgrimbie and ensure the area remains easily and safely accessible.

Nieuwe Bunders is likely to be one of the last major greenfield developments in Limburg. Together with its partners, POM Limburg therefore aims to turn it into a future-proof business park: sustainable, state-of-the-art, and delivering clear added value to the Limburg economy.

Project Status

The permitting procedure for the first phase of Nieuwe Bunders is currently underway. This first phase includes the subzones Droogweide North and Droogweide South. Once the permit has been granted and the archaeological investigation has been completed, the infrastructure works can begin. These are scheduled for autumn 2026. The developer will carry out the works in phases and take measures to minimize traffic disruption as much as possible.