Urban Planning and Environmental Law

Whether it concerns private individuals, companies or public authorities, they are frequently confronted with issues relating to spatial planning or environmental matters. This has become a particularly complex area of law, which, moreover, varies depending on the Region in which one resides or is established: The Flemish Region, The Brussels-Capital Region or The Walloon Region. Andersen in Belgium assists you irrespective of where you reside or where you are established.

Should a dispute nevertheless arise, Andersen assists its clients in proceedings before administrative appeal bodies, such as the Provincial Executive, as well as before administrative courts, including the Council for Permit Disputes and the Council of State. Andersen also represents companies and private individuals before these same appeal bodies and courts when their rights are affected by an environmental permit granted by a public authority.

In the event of litigation, Andersen has extensive expertise in representing clients before the civil courts and the criminal courts.

This may concern large-scale infrastructure and construction projects, such as factories, shopping centres, roads and hospitals, as well as residential development projects.

Andersen also has a recognized expertise in expropriation law. Assistance may be provided at an early stage, when private individuals or companies are confronted with an imminent expropriation and the public authorities enter into negotiations with them. Andersen also represents clients in expropriation proceedings before the Justice of the Peace or the Council for Permit Disputes.

We are experienced in:

• Permits:
  – Urban planning permissions;
  – Environmental permits for classified entities;
  – Land division permits;
  – Permits for retail establishments.
  
  
• We also assist …
  – Permit holders if their permit is challenged before administrative appeal bodies or administrative courts;
  – Clients in formulating their objections in the context of a public inquiry;
  – Clients challenging permits before administrative authorities or before administrative or judicial courts;
  
  
• Purchasing and selling of real estate: due diligence and the preparation of sale and purchase contracts.
     
• Expropriation: we assist in negotiating with the government on expropriation and in legal expropriation proceedings.
     
• Environmental issues relating to mergers and acquisition transactions.
     
• Real Estate development: we assist in development of real estate projects, land development projects, construction projects and infrastructure.
     
• Public Private Partnerships (PPP).
     
• We assist in issues concerning non-conformity with zoning conditions and real estate heritage,
     
• Creation, connection, maintenance and use of roads.
     
• Hazardous materials and industrial waste.
     
• The representation and assistance before the relevant administrative, civil and criminal authorities and the civil and criminal courts.
     
• …

You can count on our support for any environmental issue, anywhere, and before any administrative or judicial authority.