Brussels' 10-minute city plan supported by interactive mapping tool

On 27 May 2024, Brussels City Council adopted the final version of the Municipal Plan for Sustainable Development “BXL 2050”, which envisions a sustainable, inclusive and accessible city by 2050. Central to this plan is the concept of the '10-minute city,' an evolution of the '15-minute city' model, where residents can access essential services and amenities within a ten-minute walk or bike ride from their homes. The plan is structured around seven major ambitions and the city's seven major territories. The ambitions are:

1. A city that breathes: focuses on climate and environmental initiatives.
2. A city that evolves: promotes adaptable urban development and sustainable construction.
3. An open and inclusive city: ensures social equity and access to public services.
4. A city that moves: prioritises shared, low-carbon transport options.
5. A dynamic and smart city: supports a circular economy and smart technologies.
6. An exemplary and participatory city: encourages citizen engagement and good governance.
7. A city of proximity: plans for equitable local facilities and services.

To effectively implement these ambitions, the plan identifies seven priority intervention zones on the basis of the city's seven major quarters: Pentagon, North-East Quarter, North Quarter-Lower Laeken, Upper Laeken-Mutsaard, Neder-Over-Heembeek, Haren, and South Territory - each with unique characteristics and strategic importance.

The ‘10-minute city’ and strategic urban planning

The '10-minute city' concept serves as a guiding principle for spatial planning in Brussels, designed to rethink territorial organisation, bring essential services closer to residents, and improve quality of life. To support this, an interactive mapping tool has been introduced, allowing the city to identify service gaps and make informed decisions on urban development. Developed in collaboration with Belgian universities, this tool categorises services into four thematic areas: 

• Living environment (green) - green spaces and environmental amenities
• Living together (yellow) - social interaction spaces
• Residential economy (blue) - local outlets
• Mobility (purple) - public transport and infrastructure

The heatmap feature visualises service availability, with warmer areas indicating better accessibility. The tool also refines access times based on real-world patterns, setting 5-minute thresholds for daily amenities and 20-minute thresholds for larger facilities like hospitals and swimming pools.

A data-driven approach to urban transformation

Integrating the '10-minute city' concept into the BXL 2050 plan supports equitable service distribution and data-driven decision-making. The mapping tool acts as an inventory for monitoring territorial knowledge, assisting policymakers in strategic planning while providing citizens with valuable information. 

Future developments aim to enhance the tool's capabilities, incorporating foresight and impact assessment features to track urban evolution and assess how new services impact accessibility. By aligning urban planning efforts with the principles of proximity and sustainability, Brussels aims to create a cohesive, inclusive, and accessible city that meets the diverse needs of its residents.

Author: Carla Giaume

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.