Far From Dense, Far From Done?

Flanders faces the dual challenge of accommodating demographic growth while meeting the objectives of the bouwshift (building shift) and the European Nature Restoration Law. Densification of well-located areas is often presented as a key strategy to safeguard open space, yet current practices reveal divergent interpretations, uncertain outcomes, and conflicting effects. This project departs from a systematic evaluation of densification practices in Flanders and investigates under which conditions densification can contribute to circular land use without additional land take or soil sealing, while simultaneously ensuring affordability, climate resilience, and urban liveability. 

The research is structured in three parts. First, a literature and policy analysis examines the conceptualization and application of densification in Flemish and international planning contexts, supported by the development of an integrated spatial database for monitoring densification, building capacity, and urban greenery. Second, a spatial and typological analysis, complemented by case studies, identifies and classifies dominant forms of densification, calculates their spatial efficiency, and assesses their socio-ecological side effects, such as loss of green space, increasing impermeability, and housing market pressures. Third, scenario development explores pathways towards future densification, ranging from business-as-usual trends to ambitious circular and climate-adaptive models. 

By combining conceptual clarification, spatial analysis, and forward-looking scenarios, the project seeks to provide a nuanced and evidence-based perspective on densification as a lever for circular land use in Flanders.