Uccle Gives Green Light for Le Public Theatre Construction

The long-awaited Le Public theatre project in Uccle, Brussels, has reached a decisive milestone. On Thursday evening, the Uccle communal council approved the municipal guarantee requested by Belfius bank for the financing of the future theatre on the Parvis Saint-Pierre, bringing the cultural venue one step closer to reality after years of delays and legal challenges that have tested the resolve of its founders and supporters.

A Decisive Financial Step

The council approved a municipal guarantee capped at €500,000 for two years, linked to a €3.2 million credit over 20 years granted by Belfius, as reported by RTBF. The commune does not directly finance the project but acts as a guarantor in case of default. The dossier, presented by First Alderman Thibaud Wyngaard (Ecolo), also includes a fourth modification of the emphyteutic lease — a long-term lease spanning between 18 and 99 years.

According to La Libre, the total project cost has risen to approximately €7 million, up from an initial estimate of €5 million, driven largely by delays stemming from legal challenges by local residents. The broader financing package draws on multiple sources: Belfius, finance&invest.brussels, St’art Invest (providing a €2 million loan), and a €1 million contribution from Théâtre Le Public itself, whose founders and architect are among the private investors.

A Project Years in the Making

The project dates back to 2021, when Le Public won the call for projects to repurpose the former Justice of the Peace building, a neoclassical structure in the historic centre of Uccle. The building, approximately 3,500 m² in size, has previously housed the town hall, a hotel, and police and fire services, according to the official project page.

The venue is designed to include a main hall with 308 seats, a smaller hall with 132 seats, rehearsal spaces, a restaurant with 88 covers, a bar, a costume workshop, and backstage facilities. The architectural design, by Atelier Metzger et Associés Architecture (Ma2), preserves much of the existing structure while optimising for ecological standards. Eiffage has been selected as the contractor, with an estimated construction timeline of 18 months.

Originally, the theatre was scheduled to open for the 2023-2024 season. That timeline was derailed by controversy around the public procurement process in 2022 and, more significantly, by legal challenges filed in February 2025 by three local residents against the urban planning and environmental permits.

Community Support and Remaining Hurdles

Michel Kacenelenbogen, co-founder of Théâtre Le Public, expressed his enthusiasm following the vote. “We are very happy to be supported like this by the commune. All elements are currently green to start,” he told RTBF. “Barring elements I don’t control, we should start work at the start of the school year [autumn].”

Mayor Valentine Delwart (MR) highlighted the expected cultural and social benefits, particularly collaborations with schools and the neighbourhood, as noted by multiple Belgian media outlets. Marc Cools (Uccle en Avant) recalled the numerous uncertainties that have surrounded the project over the years.

However, one hurdle remains: the file must still receive approval from the regional supervisory authority (autorité de tutelle). While typically a formality, this approval is not guaranteed. Additionally, the residents’ committee (Comité Parvis Uccle Saint-Pierre) has signalled its intent to pursue further legal action, as previously reported by RTBF. Marc Van Roy, the committee’s representative, warned in April 2025 of plans to seek permit annulment, a process that could take 18 to 24 months and, if successful, could force demolition and reconstruction.

A New Chapter for a Beloved Theatre

Founded in 1994 by Patricia Ide and Michel Kacenelenbogen in the former Aerts breweries in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, Théâtre Le Public has built a reputation as an independent, privately-funded theatre known for its contemporary creations, classic repertoire, and commitment to Belgian authors. As 21news.be describes it, the theatre has a “popular, unifying” character — born as a private venture, financed from its founders’ own resources, and driven by a rare entrepreneurial spirit in the cultural sector.

The Uccle project represents a significant cultural investment in the Brussels-Capital Region, bringing this established theatre brand to a new municipality as part of a broader revitalisation effort for Uccle Centre. The public-private financing model is notably innovative for a Belgian cultural venue, combining bank loans, public guarantees, institutional investment, and private capital — including a private placement offering minimum €100,000 investments at 3% over 30 years.

What’s Next

If the supervisory authority gives its approval, construction is expected to begin in autumn 2026 and last approximately 18 months, meaning the theatre could open its doors in early 2028. The project’s backers remain cautiously optimistic, but the lingering threat of further legal challenges means that this long-running cultural saga may still have one more act to play. For now, however, the green light from the Uccle council marks the most significant step forward since the project was first conceived five years ago.