The planned expansion of the Laangwiss industrial estate in Junglinster has been simmering for years with little progress, but now the project is gaining new momentum.
Under the name Avenue, investor Carlo Irthum is planning a development with retail, leisure facilities and a hotel. He sees the leisure areas in particular as an enrichment for the whole country and the Greater Region.
The investor is determined to see the project through, according to Ben Ries, the mayor of Junglinster. The environmental impact assessment will likely be submitted within the next three months – an important milestone on the way to authorisation.
Laangwiss 3 extends the two existing commercial areas Laangwiss 1 and 2 to the south as far as the high bridge, and is only a 10-minute drive from Kirchberg. The 4.3-hectare zone runs behind the Centre polyvalent Gaston Stein via the roundabout at the Globus car park to Rue de la Gare.
The expansion of the Laangwiss retail and commercial area extends to the green space between the elevated bridge and the existing buildings. Where there is now a hedge, a connecting road is to be built in a few years’ time © Photo credit: Chris Karaba
The project by private investor Irthum and his company Invest Finance from Heisdorf has changed significantly since it was first presented in 2019 and slated to open its doors in 2021. The original plans envisaged a massive development and many leisure facilities, which have now been significantly scaled back.
The investor has dispensed with the planned ‘rehabilitation centre’, and the climbing wall (up to 22 metres high) and high ropes course have also been scrapped. Office space, a supermarket, a hotel and an apartment hotel with smaller studios for longer stays are still planned. A senior citizens’ residence will be built on the upper part of the site and a crèche in the immediate vicinity.
“The residential structure for senior citizens and the crèche are in one building to promote synergies between senior citizens and the very young,” says Irthum. “Both are managed by a Luxembourg family business that is very well versed in this area.” The innovative concept is also supported by the ministry of family affairs.
It is not yet clear what leisure activities will ultimately be available in Avenue – though there should be enough space, as one floor has been set aside for this purpose. A fitness centre is also planned. “The additional leisure facilities for our country will be welcomed,” sys Irthum.
The hotel and apart-hotel with smaller studios for longer stays are also intended to fill a gap in the market. The flats would be aimed at students or trainees from companies, who could use free public transport to get to Kirchberg, for example.
Many functions under one roof: hotel and apart-hotel above, shopping centre below. The supermarket and shopping gallery are located on the ground floor, with the underground car park below © Photo credit: DDS+ Architects
Hotel and flats
Mayor Ries says he is delighted with the plan, as there has been no hotel in the largest municipality in the east of the country since the Euro-Hotel in Gonderange went out of business. “A hotel really makes sense in Junglinster, whether for business travellers or when residents have private visitors,” says Ries.
The individual development plan (PAP) still includes two areas for craft businesses and smaller companies.
Laangwiss 3 will also change a lot in terms of traffic routing in the industrial estate. The plans envisage a connecting road that starts behind the CGDIS rescue centre, extends Rue Hiehl and finally connects to Rue de la Gare below the high bridge. A bridge will be built to cross the Schwarze Ernz.
An end to the funnel
“This road connection is very important for the municipality,” says Ries. Currently, the industrial estate is a ‘funnel’; in future, traffic could flow better towards the roundabout at Lënster Lycée or towards the country road to Eschweiler. A footpath will also run alongside the planned road.
Some local politicians have expressed fears that new shops and offices will worsen traffic in the area. “Laangwiss 3 will of course have an impact on traffic,” Ries says. “However, most of the traffic will remain within the business park. In addition, the journeys to the retirement home, the supermarket and the leisure facilities are spread throughout the day, so I don’t anticipate any increase in traffic at peak times.”
It is clear that this will change the shopping landscape in the eastern region
Ben Ries
Mayor of Junglinster
Déi Gréng more conciliatory
In the 2023 election campaign, Déi Gréng in particular had been up in arms against Laangwiss 3, criticising the project as “completely backward-looking” and too big. The local party group now has a more conciliatory view of the expansion – partly because the development is planned on a less massive scale.
“The scale is different now,” says local councillor Ben Haas. “I don’t think the planned retirement home and possibly student flats are a bad thing. Nevertheless, there are still many unanswered questions for our group.”
The construction project on the Laangwiss 3 site is intended to blend harmoniously into the landscape © Photo credit: DDS+ Architects
Local business association Nova Lënster had already spoken in favour of Laangwiss 3. The retailers and tradespeople hope the increased shopping offer will make the town centre more attractive and increase the flow of customers. Ries also hopes the new retail space will complement existing shops. The potential of the expansion is undisputed, he says.
Building land prices in Luxembourg drop to 2020 levels
After absolute silence surrounding the project during the pandemic, investor Carlo Irthum now wants to see a new dynamic. If everything goes smoothly and the permits are granted on time, construction could begin in 2027. Irthum is confident that things are now moving forward. “The plans still have to be approved by the ministry of the environment and the ministry of the interior,” he says. “We’re on the right track.”
(This article was published by the Luxemburger Wort. Machine translated with editing and adaptation by Alex Stevensson.)
