The municipality of Tilburg and the province of North Brabant are taking an important next step towards realizing the Kenniskwartier. By signing the cooperation agenda, agreements were made this week to create a vibrant area in the western part of the city. Besides the Spoorzone, it should become Tilburg’s second hotspot where knowledge institutions, residents, and businesses meet.
Thousands of homes, jobs, and high-quality public transport
The Kenniskwartier is the largest inner-city area development in Tilburg. Already in 2022, it was designated by the national government as a large-scale housing area (NOVEX), where eventually 7,500 new homes and 7,500 new jobs are planned. Along with roughly 90,000 square meters of social and economic facilities. All within the area between Ringbaan-West, Professor Cobbenhagenlaan, Campus Tilburg-University, Stadsbos 013, and Westermarkt. The municipality has already started actively working on the latter sub-area.
“With our urban area developments, we help the 12 largest municipalities in Brabant prepare their city centers and station areas for the future,” says Deputy Stijn Smeulders.
“These are complex projects where we as a province can contribute knowledge and gain experience. The Spoorzone in Tilburg is perhaps the ultimate example. We take the experience from then to the Kenniskwartier, where local ambitions and regional challenges come together. Naturally in the areas of living and working. But also talent development, sustainable mobility, clean energy, and better nature. We will tackle all of this integrally here.”
Improving Tilburg University station
In the first phase of the Kenniskwartier, running until 2030, about 5,000 new homes will be built in the existing area. This year, together with railway parties and the national government, possibilities for improving Tilburg University station, an important hub in the Kenniskwartier, will be investigated. Also this year, the development and financing strategies for the project will be worked out. To clarify on which parts the province has the most added value. The province commits to contributing a maximum of 150,000 euros to process costs for this planning phase. Later it will become clear in which parts of the Kenniskwartier the province and municipality will invest together.
“We have been working closely together for years on urban development and mobility in Brabant, and I am glad we can now connect this partnership to Tilburg’s largest area development,” says alderman Bas van der Pol (Urban development, economy, and environmental quality). “We will now concretely start renewing Tilburg University station, a key project in the heart of the area that connects high-quality public transport with living quality, housing, education, and work.”