Economic Impact Study Veurne Action WP4A14: EIA Veurne Economic Impact Study Veurne Partner meeting Blackpool 18th – 20th April WP4 – action WP4A14

Content overview Location Veurne Interchange Actual situation Project progress Flemish partners Content overview Location Veurne Interchange Actual situation Aim Economic Impact study Used methodology Focus for the future Projects that determine the future of Veurne Sugar factory site Extension coast tram Redevelopment interchange zone

Location Veurne and its interchange Project progress Flemish partners Location Veurne and its interchange City center Motorway E40: Calais – Kazachstan (8000 km) Canal Railway: De Panne – Gent – Brussels airport Coast and coast tram Sugar factory site: redevelopment site of +/- 50 ha Near the coast: 5-6 km

Location Veurne and its interchange Project progress Flemish partners Location Veurne and its interchange

Location Veurne and its interchange Project progress Flemish partners Location Veurne and its interchange

Actual situation Interchange outside city center Project progress Flemish partners Actual situation Interchange outside city center Distance between station and market square: 600 m but the canal must be crossed

Actual situation Interchange outside city center but not too far away Project progress Flemish partners Actual situation Interchange outside city center but not too far away Veurne: small city (12 000 inhabitants) but a lot of services: Hospital Schools (primary and secondary schools – until 18 – big offer of disciplines) Supermarkets and small shops Business parks Restaurants, café’s, hotels Culture & sports Heritage With the peace and quite of a rural area Housing market saturated 11500 inhabitants

Aim economic impact study Project progress Flemish partners Aim economic impact study To strengthen the brand “Veurne” Through a better marketing And strategic projects that reinforce the positioning of the city

Used methodology Stakeholder consultation Interviews SWOT - analysis Project progress Flemish partners Used methodology Stakeholder consultation Interviews SWOT - analysis Result: a marketing plan to determine the future vision and image of the city (“the brand Veurne”) Interviews with politicians, entrepreneurs, people from the socio-cultural sector and from schools

Used methodology: SWOT - analysis Project progress Flemish partners Used methodology: SWOT - analysis Strenghts Urban & rural at the same time Services (hospital, schools, …) Accessibility = E40 + bicycle routes Strong businesses Proximity of the coast (5 km) Heritage and traditions Strong communities

Used methodology: SWOT - analysis Project progress Flemish partners Used methodology: SWOT - analysis Weaknesses Price housing grounds and saturated market Costs of services Shortage of hotel accommodation No strong logo and brand Opportunities Strategic projects: Sugar factory site, Kusttram, interchange & zone Second places Rural tourism Day-trip place for the coast Old crafts (skills) The housing grounds are almost unpayable for young families. Saturated market: not much expansion possible because of valuable agricultural land Day-trip place for the coast  especially when it rains

Used methodology: SWOT - analysis Project progress Flemish partners Used methodology: SWOT - analysis Threats Competition from neighbouring cities/municipalities Decreasing number of inhabitants Braindrain (regional problem) Tourism from foreign countries decreased Interaction between city and businesses too little The city is trying to stop the decreasing number of inhabitants with different housing projects. Braindrain is not a problem for Veurne alone, but for the whole region. Tourism from foreign countries decreased but the number of nights spent by Belgians increased slightly.

Project progress Flemish partners Focus for the future Determine the potential as cosy shopping center = go for the niche market of delicacies Sugar factory site: regeneration project +/- 50ha for business park, housing, park & nature Promote Veurne as coast city without coastline (extension coast tram & redevelopment of interchange zone) Promote rural and bike tourism & rural villages History opportunity: 2014-2018 Niche market: not trying to attract the big brands because the commercial properties in the center aren’t big enough. 2014-2018: World War I memorial

Projects determining Veurne’s future Project progress Flemish partners Projects determining Veurne’s future 3 strategic projects are key factors for the successful implementation of the city marketing plan: Redevelopment of the sugar factory site Extension of the Kusttram towards the Veurne railway station Redevelopment of the interchange zone at Veurne railway station

Projects determining Veurne’s future Project progress Flemish partners Projects determining Veurne’s future Redevelopment of the sugar factory site Brownfield area: owner wvi Redevelopment starts 2013, end date: 2021 13,5 ha new housing 15 ha business park 18,5 ha space for nature and park development with focus on slow mobility Master plan: finished end 2011 (reference to railway station for mobility) Housing: 2 big target groups: young families & 2nd places Mobility: extension coastal tram: important for owners 2nd places Mobility: sugar factory site and interchange zone = adjacent zones important for commuting

Projects determining Veurne’s future Project progress Flemish partners Projects determining Veurne’s future Redevelopment of the sugar factory site: master plan Picture of how it will look like

Projects determining Veurne’s future Project progress Flemish partners Projects determining Veurne’s future Redevelopment of the sugar factory site

Projects determining Veurne’s future Project progress Flemish partners Projects determining Veurne’s future Extension coast tram Walking distance from sugar factory site: “investing in opportunities” Improves mobility by public transport to and from the coast To attract 2nd residents Attract tourists from the coast for e.g. day-trips or short stays (= economic boost for Veurne) Opportunity for the redevelopment of the interchange zone in the Veurne railway station area: good image (cfr. interchange Koksijde) Strengthens the relation between Veurne and the cities/municipalities of the West Coast (De Panne, Koksijde, Nieuwpoort): tram to/from Veurne every 15 minutes

Projects determining Veurne’s future Project progress Flemish partners Projects determining Veurne’s future Extension coast tram

Projects determining Veurne’s future Project progress Flemish partners Projects determining Veurne’s future Redevelopment of the interchange zone Necessary for commuters and 2nd residents: quick and easy access by slow mobility to and in the interchange zone from e.g. the sugar factory site & the city center Necessary for tourists: the zone becomes the image of the city – interchange needs to be easy to read for not frequent users - good information necessary Veurne = regional hub for public transport to & from the West Coast and Diksmuide – again important for image building – connectivity - accessibility Improves accessibility to and from the city center and for an adjacent housing quarter (e.g. subway access) Adjacent=nearby

Projects determining Veurne’s future Project progress Flemish partners Projects determining Veurne’s future Redevelopment of the interchange zone

Project progress Flemish partners Conclusion The 3 strategic projects influence importantly the image and brand of Veurne Veurne = regional hub for public transport: improved accessibility to/from the coast = boost for economic development and tourism These projects will affect positively the other focus points of the city marketing plan

Any questions? Contact: Jurgen Oyaert Jurgen.oyaert@veurne.be Project progress Flemish partners Any questions? Contact: Jurgen Oyaert Jurgen.oyaert@veurne.be

Thank you for your attention Project progress Flemish partners Thank you for your attention