Search for a typology of economic locations

In 2015, the Flemish Environmental Planning Bureau (VPO) of the Department of Environment (formerly the AOM of the Flemish Department of Spatial Planning) started a series of studies on economic locations or places of work. The longer this series runs, the clearer it becomes that the spatial concepts and phenomena that have been studied on the basis of knowledge about housing are not sufficient to describe or understand the economic space.
The concept of product-market combinations or segments of economic locations serves as a good way of approaching this economic space. The distribution of segments of economic locations and a good understanding of the spatial phenomenon require detailed spatial data on the occurrence of economic activities. It also requires insight into the underlying motives of economic actors to choose, develop or use an economic location. Various analyses have shown that existing databases are only partially usable for this purpose, especially for a larger area such as Flanders or a province. Because the existing databases do not contain complete information, the creation of an own database with field information forms the basis for further research.
In a cross-border area between Flanders and Brussels and in five case areas in Flanders, work was done on a site inventory with spatially relevant data. These data make it possible to identify settlement environments. In 2017, two versions were made, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, positive sides and imperfections. This work provides an additional perspective for the development of policy on interweaving and spatial efficiency in Flanders.

Publication year:2018

Accessibility:Open