In 1961, the Fund for the Urbanisation and Development of Kirchberg (FUAK) was created with the mission of transforming 356 hectares of fields and meadows into a new district of Luxembourg City. While that work is still ongoing, the government has now entrusted the public developer with a new project: the urbanisation of the so-called Midfield, an undeveloped area located between Cloche d’Or and Howald.
On 10 February, the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg gave the fund the green light for the initiative. As a public establishment with decades of experience in planning and development, the fund will now be able to operate beyond Kirchberg.
FUAK director Marc Widong said the organisation is well placed to deliver the project. Urban planning is its core area of expertise, he explained, and the fund has built a reputation for high-quality urban development through its long collaboration with state actors such as the National Roads Administration, the national railway company CFL, LuxTram, and other government institutions.
The Midfield site covers around 40 hectares between Cloche d’Or, Howald, and Bonnevoie. According to current plans, the area could eventually accommodate around 5,000 residents, alongside workplaces, a new secondary school for Bonnevoie, and additional public spaces.
For now, only a preliminary concept plan exists, outlining how the new district could be developed.
Architect Sophie Glaesener, who coordinates the Midfield project for the fund, explained that the site is surrounded by major transport infrastructure. The goal is to transform what might initially appear as constraints into advantages for the neighbourhood’s design.
The site is located close to railway lines and the tram route, with the stop Howald Gare nearby.
The nearby motorway to Dudelange, however, remains affected by heavy traffic. The FUAK emphasised that the existing park-and-ride facilities will not disappear but will instead be replaced by an underground car park with around 2,000 spaces.
Improving quality of life is also a central objective of the project. Plans include the creation of a new park that could be connected to the large green space already located in the Cloche d’Or district.
Both Luxembourg City and the neighbouring municipality of Hesperange are involved in the development of the Midfield district, as the site lies within the territory of both municipalities. The FUAK said it aims to create a balanced transition between the new high-rise buildings planned for the area and the more rural character of Hesperange.
However, infrastructure remains a concern for the municipality. Hesperange Mayor Diane Adehm has emphasised that the municipality’s quality of life depends heavily on adequate road infrastructure, which she said is still lacking.
She continued to call for progress on the long-promised bypass project and regretted that discussions about Midfield have so far remained largely technical rather than political.
For Luxembourg City, cooperation between institutions will be essential. Mayor Lydie Polfer noted that the FUAK has been a major public developer in the capital since the 1960s.
While it plays an important role in shaping development on city territory, she stressed that it does not have the final say. Polfer said that planning decisions must comply with the city’s general development plan (PAG), which ultimately guides how the city evolves.
Polfer regretted that there are no concrete plans for the moment, while also noting that some administrative boundaries between Luxembourg City and Hesperange may need to be adjusted because the current border runs through several individual plots of land.
Although the FUAK will retain its name, its responsibilities are expanding. According to Widong, the Midfield project will include around 50% affordable housing.
The first construction works could begin within four to five years, he said.
The new legislation allows the FUAK not only to develop the Midfield area but also to borrow larger amounts of funding with the backing of the state. The term “expropriation” was removed from the legal text because most of the land already belongs to the state.
As a result, buying and selling land with private partners should become easier, and the fund will also be able to establish its own regulatory framework for the development.
