Knokke no longer wants a huge project from Paul Gheysens

KNOKKE – Paul Gheysens, who wanted to build a megalomaniacal project in Knokke (golf course, luxury apartments, conference center), had previously indicated that he wanted to reconsider his entire project. Now Knokke mayor Jan Morby has also spoken about the plans. He did so in Het Nieuwsblad. It is clear to the Knokke management that large-scale operations are no longer an option.

The project was ready: 18 professional golf courses, but also a luxury hotel with 150 rooms and two hundred suites, a huge conference center and dozens of apartments between Natienlaan and Kalviketdijk. Cost: around 800 million euros.

But the so-called golf project created by Paul Gheysens is now also facing opposition from the Knokke-Heist city council. Suddenly they are no longer interested in the arrival of a hotel with 150 rooms and dozens of apartments, according to a contribution from Het Nieuwsblad.

Back to square one

Developers Ghelamco and Paul Gheysens had obtained an environmental permit, but after much fanfare they abandoned it in June. The permit disputes board also revoked the permit. After years of proceedings and protests from local residents and nature associations, the project had to go back to square one. Now the Knokke-Heist city council wants to seize the opportunity.

Economical with Boulder Space

The Municipal Interests Party, the party of Mayor Jan Morby, also took a clear position on the second wave in its party programme for the upcoming elections.We believe that the proposed hotel complex is too large and not the size of our municipality.”

Morbee confirms to Het Nieuwsblad that Knokke-Heist is no longer interested in the old plans. “We want a second golf course, there is certainly a market for that in our municipality,” he says. But Giesen’s plan was not about sports, but about a real estate project with a golf course. That is something we can hardly tolerate. We have to be more economical with our reclaimed land.

Through services

According to Morby, there has been no contact with Paul Gysens about any new plans. “This is done exclusively through known services and procedures,” he says in the newspaper. “I will never go Face to face “Sit around the table with the real estate developers. If there is a consultation, it means involving other people or other services. This way there will definitely be no misunderstandings.”