Paperass batteries for a request for an urban planning permit in Wallonia, it’s soon over

“We leave the reform of territorial development that came into force in April 2024. Furthermore, What we want now is stability. Consequently, put oil in the workings by working on the simplification and fluidity of the mechanisms”exhibits the minister.

“This measure alone is 1 million less photocopies”: Wallonia concretizes its “shock of administrative simplification”

“Three sites are. Meanwhile, carried out in parallel”he said. Therefore, One: the simplification of the request forms. Moreover, the introduction of the “Only Once” principle which consists in having to introduce the forms only once for all the administrations. Nevertheless, “”This project should lead in September. Consequently, “ Two : “Simplifications for license exemptions, such as terraces in Horeca, fences, bicycle shelters, etc. For example, “ Finally, three, and “It is the most important of all “ : the dematerialization of permits.

The paperass batteries request urban planning submerged part of dematerialization

“The primary objective of dematerialization is to be paperlesswithout paper, totally computerized. In addition, We will shoot less trees, it’s positive, but this is only the emerged part of the iceberg. Meanwhile, There is also everything you don’t see. However, “

Computerization, explains Mr. Meanwhile, Desquesnes, must allow“Improve flow management”. Meanwhile, “With paper, It is difficult to assess how the various instances restore their opinions, process the files. Therefore, It is difficult to know where it gets stuck, where you could be faster, where you could redirect human resources. A computer system will make it possible to better identify these difficulties and resolve them “.

Computerization must also “strengthen the interactions between the permit applicant and the administration “. The applicant will be able to consult “in real time “ The progress of his file. bringing the corrections, information supplements, possibly necessary adaptations. “”The paper files do not allow to interact quickly and efficiently. “

Finally. this computerization will allow “Check that decisions [d’octroi ou de refus des permis] correspond well to the objectives that we pursue in terms of territories policy, such as the Zero net artificialization of the soil in paperass batteries request urban planning 2050the densification of city centers or the protection of rural areas.

François DESQUESNES (the committed): “Urbanization has reached its limits in Wallonia. There is another priority”

“Today. town planning or urbanization permits are a sum of small decisions made one after the other which do not allow you to pilot the regional planning policy. We must physically compile thousands of permits granted each year in Wallonia. And when you ask for data, we receive those from two or three years ago. Under these conditions, how to know if we achieve our objectives? Board which evolves in real time and allows fine analyzes of the situation by territory, by village, by district. “

Paperass batteries request urban planning

Second pilot phase in September 2026

We are not there yet. The first step will therefore be the launch of a pilot phase in the second quarter of 2026 in paperass batteries request urban planning twenty Walloon municipalities from the regions of Namur. Mons-Tournai. The municipalities of these regions will receive the details of the call for candidates this Wednesday. which will have to have returned for September 19 at the latest.

The pilot phase relates only to regional permits (10 % of permits issued each year). mainly carried by public authorities, sometimes by private people for very specific requests. The Minister ofquesnes hopes to be able to generalize the computerization of regional permits to all Walloon municipalities from January 1, 2027.

A call for a second pilot phase will be launched in September 2026. this time for all town planning permits, including the municipal permits which directly concern citizens and businesses. During this phase, permit requests for projects without architect can still be filed in paper format. The generalization of permits in digital format is hoped for January 1, 2028.

The investment made in 2024 and 2025 for the dematerialization of permits is roughly 5 million euros. The longer term return on investment is “Difficult to quantify “. “There will be a saving of time and productivity for administration agentsconcludes François DESQUESNES. But above all. we will improve service to the population, for families, for companies that want to develop their projects, for the Walloon economy in general. “