Transmission tower removals to make way for more housing in Junglinster

This follows the announcement by CLT-UFA, the parent company of RTL and the site's largest landowner, that it no longer requires the site. However, before building can take place, a study needs to be conducted to check if the ground is viable for housing construction, according to Junglinster mayor Ben Ries.

On Friday morning, the municipal council unanimously agreed to lay out the first steps of the project. However, it remains uncertain whether the site is suitable for development, as it is located on a hilltop with steep slopes.

On a 36-hectare plot owned by seven different proprietors, the Junglinster municipality, together with the Ministry of Housing, plans to develop an urban concept for the site on the Lënster Berg, which will be called "Um Bichel."

Three key factors

According to the mayor, the success of the "Um Bichel" redevelopment project will hinge on three key points.

First, it must be ensured that water supply and wastewater management are properly regulated to prevent flooding in and around the municipality. The second point concerns noise and traffic management. The third involves public infrastructure: as more residents settle in, additional schools, day-care centres, sports facilities, and more will be needed.

The mayor also noted that the old technical buildings of the CLT-UFA, as well as three protected cooling ponds, will not play a major role in the project. If necessary, they could be integrated into the plan. CLT-UFA has already announced its intention to appeal a ruling by the administrative court to allow these infrastructures to be removed.

Meanwhile, the three transmission towers and three double-family houses on the site will most likely be removed, as they are not classified as protected structures.

Careful planning needed

According to the mayor, it is also crucial to carefully consider how the site will be developed: "We cannot start building a satellite construction at the top of the hill without a connection to the village centre."
 
The specification must also define the various zones, such as eco-, commercial, and residential areas. Furthermore, the entire site should not be developed all at once, but rather gradually.

If the feasibility study produces positive results, a call for proposals will be issued for different areas to draft a master plan. Residents will also be involved in various consultations, as stipulated in the agreement.

The mayor insists that the project – if it goes forward – is not something that will happen tomorrow or the day after; it could take until 2030 before the master plan is finalised. Only after that will the General Development Plan (PAG) be updated and the Local Development Plan (PAP) integrated.

If all goes according to plan, the Lënster Berg site could provide housing for thousands of people.