More community involvement needed in urban planning

Residents in Rollingergrund have voiced concerns about the disruption caused by multiple construction sites on their street.

Some people living on Val Fleuri, a tree-lined, residential street, say ongoing building works are impacting daily life, leaving them feeling overwhelmed by the noise, dust, and volume of construction vehicles.  
 
The building projects consist of the overhaul of the On-Call Medical Centre (Maison médicale) building at 23, Val Fleuri, ongoing since November 2024. The former office block is in the process of being renovated, with the upper floors being converted to residential units. The work is being carried out by a private real estate company and is estimated to take 18 months.
 
The Ministry of Health and Social Security confirmed that the lease for the Maison médicale has been suspended for the duration of the works. It added that the service is expected to return to Val Fleuri from its temporary location at Rue de Primeurs in Strassen pending completion of the project.
  
Directly opposite, a private residence is undergoing renovation, while within 20 metres, another property is being demolished.

In addition, the large-scale construction site for the new CHL building, which began in late 2021, is also located on Val Fleuri. Works at this site are estimated to continue until 2028.
 
Residents say they have had enough and are asking why permits for multiple building projects were approved in close proximity, criticising the fact that they were not staggered. They say the granting of building permits simultaneously and so close to one another lacks thoughtful planning and consideration of those living in the vicinity.

Although works have stopped for the collective holidays, locals say they dread when construction starts up again and children go back to school.

Basic safety  

Mother-of-two and local resident Aksana Castelletta told RTL Today there are concerns over “basic safety” on the street as a result of the ongoing construction.

She pointed out that she has observed trucks parking on both sides of the street blocking passage on the footpaths outside the sites, meaning pedestrians, including school children, have had to walk on the road to get around the vehicles.

“I have two kids, aged 14 and 10. They walk up and down the street to school or to catch a bus every day. For us, safety is paramount, considering the fact that there’s already a restricted passage down the street, which makes it all the more dangerous for walking, especially for small kids.

“There are a lot of schoolchildren living on the street...we are talking about basic safety now because there is a lot of speed abuse in our street. The dust, the noise and the lack of walking or [driving] space is more than a nuisance for the residents.”

Noise   

Ms Castelletta added that the early morning noise from construction vehicles is “pure sleep deprivation.”
 
A 50-year-old resident, who didn't wish to be named, lives close to the three building sites and also complained about the early morning noise labelling it “unacceptable”.
  
“There are days when they start making noise around 6am. Let’s just say they don’t always respect the time slots set by law”, he claimed. However, he added that the construction noise isn't constant throughout the day.

“Now with three projects going on down the street, the question would be how it is even possible to allow all three to take place simultaneously in such close proximity?"
  
“Choosing a small residential street, narrow in places and normally reserved for local residents, to build a Maison médicale wasn't a very good choice. There are administrative and even commercial areas with parking (as is the case for the current Maison médicale) where it would have been less disruptive. And yet, we don't know what the situation will be like once the new hospital, currently under construction, is operational."  
 
“The noise, dust, traffic etc. can cause stress, which, of course, is sometimes unavoidable. Generally speaking, the street hasn't felt quiet for years, and sometimes it feels like things are getting worse and worse.”

Another local commented that the organisation on the planners’ part has had “a very negative effect” for residents.

“Concurrent building works opposite each other has caused major access problems”, said Mr Wilson, who lives close to the building sites.

No guideline exists 

When contacted by RTL Today, the Ville de Luxembourg (VDL) said there is no guideline on how many building permits can be granted on a given street at the same time.  
 
Asked if the impact on residents of multiple construction sites close to each other is considered before granting planning permission, the spokesperson said: “From the moment a project complies with the applicable urban planning regulations, the administration is obliged to grant building permission. This ensures consistent jurisprudence, as provided for by the administrative court. The municipal authority must act within the bounds of laws and regulations.”  
 
Explaining the process, the spokesperson added: “The municipal administration has, in principle, a period of three months to respond to a building permit application. This response may take the form of an approval, a refusal, or a request for additional information.

“If the application complies with legal and regulatory provisions, the administration is obliged to issue the requested permit, failing which it may be considered an abuse of power. If the municipal administration has not responded after three months, the interested parties may consider their application as rejected and may appeal to the administrative courts.”

Public consultation

Concerning public consultation before building permits are approved, the VDL spokesperson said residents are free to lodge an objection.

“When a building permit application is submitted, the City administration checks for compliance and then issues a public notice (avis au public) if the application is in accordance with the regulation.

“This notice must be visibly posted by the project owner at the construction site. The current procedure also stipulates that the notices are published in the 'e-Reider' [the digital equivalent of the traditional “reider” or public noticeboard used to publish official communications such as building permits available at vdl.lu].  
 
“The City usually grants the public, which expressed its interest, two weeks to inspect the file and submit their objections before permission is given.”

In relation to the noise complaints from residents, he added that the working hours are defined in the Amended Grand Ducal Regulation of 13 February 1979 concerning the noise level in the immediate vicinity of establishments and construction sites. (Règlement grand-ducal modifié du 13 février 1979 concernant le niveau de bruit dans les alentours immédiats des établissements et des chantiers.)  
 
“Within urban areas, construction work is prohibited at night (22:00–7:00). In special circumstances, upon request submitted before the start of the works, the Minister in charge of the environment may grant an exemption from this prohibition.”
  
He confirmed that dust and noise levels generated by construction work are not monitored by the commune.

RTL Today can confirm that a public notice displayed at the Maison médicale site stipulates that the operation of a crane is authorised from 6am.