The brief is to draw up a visual quality plan for a wider project area in Neerpelt as the basis for a Spatial

Implementation Plan and for the further development of a public-private partnership project on a project zone in

this area.

The urban stretch of the Bocholt-Herentals Canal runs through the project area, which adjoins the centre of

Neerpelt. On the south side, the project area is bounded by St-Martensstraat, Broesveldstraat, Bermstraat, Jaak

Tassetstraat, Boomgaardstraat, Priester jan Coninxstraat and Nieuwstraat, and on the north side by

Volmolenstraat (as far as Hayenhoek) and onwards parallel to the canal as far as the cycle path over the railway

bridge.

The prime intention in the project area is to avoid the canal becoming a barrier or hard boundary with regard to

the town centre. The canal should be seen as a passage through the centre. In this respect it is important that the

brief also includes the creation of a progressive development plan for the northern side of the canal. The

installation of a small urban harbour might possibly be considered.

The project area should not be independent, but must link up with the development of the centre of Neerpelt

(draft Spatial Implementation Plan for Broeseinderveld, the Merktakkers council estate, the Neerpelt retail plan,

planned and completed re-laying of streets and squares in the centre, Northern Entrance plan, etc.).

Within the project area, a project zone has been marked out for a PPP project to be developed in the long term.

This zone is in the western part, in the angle formed by the canal and the railway and cycle path bedding. The

council depot and dump currently located in this project zone will be moved. The zone is owned partly by

Neerpelt council and partly by NV de Scheepvaart.

The plan to be drawn up should bring together the urban and landscape aspects in terms of both programme and

architectural form. In the programme, the combination of the urban centre of Neerpelt and the landscape of the

canal area should result in a combination of housing with tourism and recreation. In concrete terms, what is

expected is housing for two-income households, oriented towards the local population, and hotel accommodation

(possibly with conference hall) supplemented by a cafe-bistro, which should be attached to the urban canal and

the existing recreational activities in the surroundings. This combination of town and landscape should also be

visible in the creation of an architecturally interesting marker in the landscape, based on urban density.