Zelzate is a key mobility and energy hub between the Flemish ports of Zeebrugge, North Sea Port, and Antwerp, and on the Rotterdam-North Sea Port-Paris axis. Several supra-local infrastructures, including the redevelopment of R4 Oost, the E34, the canal with the Zelzate tunnel, railway projects, and cycling connections, converge here and require development space.
Through the GRUP Zelzate Oost, the Flemish government intends to reinforce traffic infrastructure, improve accessibility to Zelzate, integrate infrastructure spatially and scenically, and enhance the surrounding living environment. The impact of this planning process on Lochristi is limited, as the study area largely covers Zelzate's territory.
The Flemish Government approved the initial note on June 27, 2025. Following a public consultation from August 19, 2025, to October 17, 2025, the government processed all feedback into the scoping note. This note outlines the alternatives to be further investigated and the approach for the environmental impact assessment.
The scoping note serves as the basis for the draft GRUP. A global design of the railway and roads, expected in the spring of 2027, is necessary for the plan-MER. Coordination with the Netherlands regarding the connection of railways and roads is also essential. The further timing for the draft GRUP is therefore difficult to estimate.
“"The scoping note also includes the reasoned processing of all responses."
