CityD analyses the spatial and economic evolution of publicly accessible functions (2024) for VLAIO.

VLAIO (Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship) is building 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. We do this spatially, economically and in terms of mobility.

Commercial city centres in motion

The importance of this research cannot be overstated because everyone is noticing the transition of the public access apparatus in cities and commercial centres. Vacant retail premises and other spaces in the city centre are a more acute problem than say 10 years ago.

Some trends and developments have been going on for years and have a clear impact on the way we shop, dwell and consume while e-commerce suddenly gave everyone access to any service, any product, at any minute of the day or night. The COVID-19 pandemic froze commercial cores for many months. People were forced to make targeted and quick purchases when before that fun shopping was the buzzword. There has certainly been a recovery from the corona crisis but a number of developments have become firmly entrenched. Meanwhile, we also witness the growth of the tertiary sector at the expense of pure retail and catering concepts are popping up in all possible guises but rather to support daytime activities.

Are commercial city centres today still commercial city centres? And if not, have core-strengthening policies proved their worth?

We contrast the developments of the past 10 years with policies that also seek balances to maintain the quality of life and housing in cities and towns. Tailored to each city, measures are initiated to guard that fragile balance between fun and run, between functionality and cosiness, in order to shape the future in our city centres. New keywords are now 'mix and interweaving'. To achieve this re-dynamisation in a sustainable and socially responsible way, we need to map out the best way to do it. Learning from the past and looking forward to a balanced future.

Phased research

On the basis of objective analyses, knowledge of the instruments, of the policy scope and knowledge of many concrete interventions that have had a positive or less positive influence on the public-oriented offer, with this assignment we want to provide VLAIO with tools for a future-oriented policy on public-oriented functions, on resilient commercial and/or facility centres tailored to each city or municipality, regardless of scale, typology or location. We work together with Idea Consult for this purpose.

The study is carried out in different stages. The different steps are a constant interaction between observations, explanations and review of existing policy, with Integral Commercial Establishment Policy Decree as the guiding framework. We examine what the desired or undesired developments are and formulate recommendations around them.

Mobility in the spotlight

A special chapter constitutes an analysis of mobility interventions in some 11 Flemish cities. After all, mobility is also part of an integral approach to commercial centres. Not only for reasons of safety and liveability, but also to promote commercial dynamics. In this study, we therefore examine to what extent mobility interventions have also had an impact on the evolution of the publicly accessible offer and on the buying and visiting behaviour of consumers.

Future support to local governments

We are talking about publicly accessible functions, primarily of a commercial nature. By this we mean commerce, hospitality, commercial services. But we also consider possible evolutions in the publicly accessible functions of a non-commercial nature. Has the policy also caused a noticeable shift in schools, socio-cultural activities, administrative services, care, etc.?

VLAIO will use these insights to provide appropriate incentives in the next legislature, whether stimulating or restrictive, so that local authorities can also take targeted action.

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