Our work
CityD has been active for almost 20 years and was a pacesetter in the field of centre management, commercial core reinforcement and retail policy.
Today, CityD focuses in Belgium and Flanders on integrated support and A-to-Z guidance for cities and municipalities, traders, developers and other market parties, in the realization of policy, investment and location decisions. From early research about strategic choices to bold action plans for urban functions or projects, that is the path that CityD explores with you. The projects provide more information about our work.
Local economy in Flanders: challenges and opportunities for cities and municipalities
The local economy not only shapes employment and entrepreneurship, but also influences quality of life, the quality of the built environment and social dynamics. In Flanders, the local economy is currently under pressure. At the same time, it offers opportunities for those who dare to opt for a well-considered, evidence-based approach. Interconnectedness, experience, sustainability and economic prosperity are vital for the development of a dynamic city or municipality where people enjoy living, working and visiting.
Collaboration as the key to strong city centres | CityD
Cooperation is one of the most important drivers for vibrant, sustainable and economically attractive city centres. However, in many cities and municipalities, it appears that the parties involved are not always on the same page. That is precisely why the "Platform Binnenstadsmanagement" (Inner City Management Platform) has developed a practical digital Toolbox for Strong Inner City Connections. CityD, a partner of the "Platform Binnenstadsmanagement", was also involved in this exciting project.
Supra-local land allocation policy
Scarce business space requires more than local policy. A supra-local policy for the allocation of business parks helps Flemish authorities make choices that are legally, administratively and economically sound. Discover how CityD guides this process from vision to applicable decision-making framework.
Supporting the local economy in Overijse
Since 2022, CityD has been assisting the municipality of Overijse in optimising the local economy. Vision and implementation go hand in hand in this process. The integrated approach aims to strengthen urban and, by extension, regional dynamics through targeted actions in line with policy guidelines.
Retail vision for Ostend
Ostend, a famous coastal and shopping city. CityD examines the future of retail across the boundaries of policy areas. With a spatial perspective and taking into account residents, visitors and tourists who spend the night in Ostend, a clear vision and concrete action plan are developed on the basis of this analysis
City marketing Eeklo
City marketing literally means “promoting a city”. This time, we are ensuring that the city of Eeklo gets the image it wants and that this image is also communicated. We will be turning the positioning to be developed into reality in the coming years, as the city has also entrusted the two-year support process to CityD.
Diepenbeek Retail Vision 2023
CityD assisted the municipality of Diepenbeek in drawing up a retail vision: from analysis to action plan. Not as a theoretical exercise, but as a strategic translation of figures, trends and local reality into a workable compass for the future.
Centre management Heist-op-den-Berg
CityD has been supporting the municipality of Heist-op-den-Berg as town centre manager since 2022. The new council is also continuing to strengthen the supply chain. The residents of Heist are now proud of their municipality, because ‘everyone wants to live, work and shop in Heist-op-den-Berg, because you can find everything there’.
Quality scan and supervision of conference venues within Flanders Heritage Venue network of Visit Flanders
CityD has been assigned since 2018 to support Visit Flanders Convention Bureau in the development of the Flanders Heritage Venues network, a network of experiential and quality conference venues.
Repurposing of Poeke Castle in Aalter
After Visit Flanders became the owner of Poeke Castle in Aalter, the castle needed to be redeveloped. CityD was commissioned to investigate various ideas for feasibility, desirability and other factors.
Support for local economy in Zaventem
CityD has been involved in trade support and city-centre support projects in Zaventem since 2020. We are continuing our work to further strengthen local trade.
Research on publicly accessible spaces
VLAIO (the Flemish Innovation & Entrepreneurship Agency) builds the lively centres of the future. What policy is needed around public-oriented functions to build resilient commercial and providing centres? CityD analyses the public-oriented offer, tests existing policy, examines developments and formulates recommendations.
Policy plan for the hotel&catering industry in Beringen
With the policy plan for the hotel&catering industry in Beringen, a balanced policy has been developed for all hotel & catering entrepreneurs and hotel&restaurant lovers. Not only in Beringen centre, but also in the surrounding areas.
Centre management and combatting vacancy in Aarschot
CityD has been active in the city of Aarschot since 2019 and is still active as city centre manager today. This year the emphasis is mainly on a thorough approach to combatting commercial vacancy in Aarschot and Aarschot recently came into the spotlight with the 'Win je zaak (Win your business)' AZ initiative.
City marketing Oudsbergen
Oudsbergen is a young merged municipality in Limburg. In the city marketing plan we shaped the powerful and connecting identity during positioning workshops.
Master plan centre Oostkamp
The development of the Oostkamp centre master plan by CityD in terms of retail vision.
Office market study for city of Kortrijk and Leiedal region
The 'offices' market segment is an important segment in Kortrijk and the surrounding area, but it is also a market that is constantly changing. The city of Kortrijk and the intermunicipal company Leiedal asked CityD and JLL (Jones Lang Lasalle) to examine this market segment.
ENA Cluster (Economic Network Albert Canal) West Limburg
We prepared the study 'Spatial-economic strategy for the "ENA cluster West Limburg' on behalf of the Flemish government, Environment Department.
De Vitrine – inspiration platform for busy centres
The Vitrine is VLAIO's inspiration platform for everyone who helps build the bustling centers of the future.
Reallocation of Colen Monastery
How can a monastery from 1438 remain relevant? A contemporary re-use of an authentic building
Town planning regulation in Schoten
Schoten already had a strategic-commercial plan, so it knew where to place the emphasis and decided to take the next step towards implementing its policy, namely drawing up of a town planning regulation.
Tongeren is looking for AmbioriX factor
With the new project 'Entrepreneurship with character', the city of Tongeren connects the characteristics of the inhabitants of Tongeren with its traders.
