Credit: WW+

At a press conference on Friday 21 April 2023, the national and local authorities presented the project to transform the former "Cité militaire" in Diekirch into a new "affordable" residential area.

The press conference took place in the presence of Luxembourg's Minister for Housing, Henri Kox, the Mayor of Diekirch, Claude Thill, the Vice Chief of Defence, Colonel Pascal Ballinger, and the Director of the SNHBM (national society for affordable housing), Guy Entringer.

On 31 March 2023, the Government Council (Cabinet) adopted a bill authorising the state to participate in the financing of the development of affordable housing and a mixed-use building as part of this project. The budget for the overall project amounts to €190.5 million.

The SNHBM, a public developer, is building 184 housing units on this site, including 124 affordable housing units located in six residential buildings, and 60 housing units for the Luxembourg Army in a new mixed-use building. According to the authorities, 90% of the affordable housing offer will be for rent (113 housing units) with the remaining 10% for sale (eleven housing units). The new district is expected to accommodate just over 420 residents in total.

"This project brings together several public actors: three determined ministries, a committed municipality and a competent public promoter," said Minister Kox. "The role of municipalities is decisive in the creation of affordable, public and sustainable housing."

The old administrative building will be demolished and a new one built, integrating new functions such as shops, offices and housing for the Luxembourg Army. The SNHBM will build this new mixed-use building on behalf of Luxembourg's Ministry of Finance. The 60 service accommodations (ranging between 67 and 75 m2) for the army are intended to accommodate young career soldiers.

All parking spaces will be grouped together in the basement of Lot 1. Traffic will be limited within the area, with motorised vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians sharing the road. The speed is limited to 20 km/h.

"For the City of Diekirch, this project is a chance to be able to redevelop this district in a modern urban view with more than 120 affordable public housing units. At the same time, the residential Cité militaire will retain 'military housing'. This is an important aspect for the city [...]," emphasised Claude Thill, Mayor of Diekirch.

"Although it is a fairly complex project, we are delighted to be able to build new affordable housing in the centre of the City of Diekirch", added Guy Entringer, Director of SNHBM.

Completion of the project is scheduled for 2031, with the works divided into different phases (subject to adaptations):

  • 2022-2025: Asbestos removal, decontamination and demolition of all pavilions, brush clearing and tree felling;
  • 2025-2027: Asbestos removal, decontamination and demolition of the current administrative building, as well as brush clearing;
  • 2025-2026: Demolition of roads, soil remediation and the first phase of infrastructure works;
  • 2027-2031: Construction of Lot 1;
  • 2027-2029: Construction of the next four lots;
  • 2028-2030: Construction of the last two lots;
  • 2031-2031: Second phase of infrastructure works, finishing, street furniture and planting.

(L-R) Colonel Pascal Ballinger, Vice Chief of Defence; Annick Rock, SNHBM President; Claude Thill, Mayor of Diekirch; Guy Entringer, SNHBM Director; Henri Kox, Luxembourg's Minister for Housing (Credit: MLOG)