Groundbreaking ceremony for ‘t Groen Hart van Roeselare
05/03/2026
First residents of new neighbourhood expected in early 2029
On the site of the former Heilig-Hartziekenhuis hospital in Roeselare, the long-awaited construction of the new 't Groen Hart neighbourhood has begun. This is a unique project in which nature, living and care are all given ample space. If everything goes according to plan, the first residents will be welcomed in 2029. What makes 't Groen Hart extra special is that the new neighbourhood is being designed by Coussée Bouw & Project, in collaboration with project developer ION. Almost a century ago, this family business also laid the foundations for the hospital site. Zorggroep H. Hart will create an innovative range of care and welfare services on the site.
The construction site between Meensesteenweg, Wilgenstraat, Westlaan and Rode-Kruisstraat is now buzzing with activity. Now that the last outdated hospital buildings have been demolished, everything is ready to really give shape to 't Groen Hart. This afternoon, Roeselare mayor Kris Declercq did the honours by symbolically breaking ground. He was joined by the Coussée family from Coussée Bouw & Project, Maarten Wuyts, Head of Development at project developer ION, and Wino Baeckelandt, Managing Director of Zorggroep H. Hart.
The first fossil-free residential building will be constructed in the coming months. It consists of three connected blocks of varying heights and was designed by the Kortrijk-based architectural firm Link Lab Architecture. This multifunctional building comprises 60 private apartments, a residential care hotel with 110 studios, 27 assisted living apartments, built on top of a lively commercial zone. All residences will be connected to a local heating network.
The elegant residential tower is the landmark of 't Groen Hart. It will have a total of 16 floors, with contemporary one-, two- and three-bedroom flats from the fifth floor upwards. Their terraces offer beautiful views of the city and the new green park. One of the tower's eye-catching features are two 200-square-metre penthouses on the 15th floor. First-time buyers, families, senior citizens, people with disabilities... there really is something to suit everyone's needs and budget. Everyone can feel at home here.
Future residents will be able to park their cars underground in one of the 180 parking spaces spread over two underground floors.
Experienced care partner
Care once again plays an important role in this project. Zorggroep H. Hart from Kortrijk, which has more than 35 years of experience in care and services in West and East Flanders, is playing a key role in the development of a unique and innovative care and welfare offering in 't Groen Hart. The experienced care partner, which currently runs the Westerlinde residential care centre, will be responsible for operating the assisted living apartments, the new residential care hotel, the local service centre, the care villa with 20 studios for people with acquired brain injury (ABI) and coordinating home care in 't Groen Hart. The various facilities will also create additional employment opportunities for care and welfare professionals in the region.
A particular eye-catcher will be the trendy bistro, run by Zorggroep H. Hart: an open meeting and working place where residents, family, visitors, students and local residents are welcome.
On the site where the Heilig-Hart hospital once stood, Roeselare's healthcare story is being given a new future. As a partner in healthcare and co-investor, we are proud that 't Groen Hart will enable us to contribute to an inclusive neighbourhood where living, well-being and professional support come together. This project builds on the site's rich healthcare tradition — but in a way that meets the needs of today and tomorrow.
One with nature
Now that the site can be redeveloped, the driving forces behind the new construction project are seizing the opportunity to make it significantly greener. No less than 72% of the site will be softened.
Together with Roeselare-based infrastructure agency Demey and internationally renowned landscape architecture firm West8, we have drawn up a master plan to transform the site into a green neighbourhood with a brand-new two-hectare public city park. It will be a place where young and old can meet in peace and quiet and literally breathe again. The route of the culverted Collievijverbeek stream will become a green corridor connecting Meensesteenweg and Westlaan. We are incredibly proud that, a century after the first generation of our family business built the Heilig-Hartziekenhuis hospital on this site, we are now able to make another contribution to society. This is a unique project in Roeselare, where there is plenty of space for housing, healthcare and greenery.
Added value for the city of Roeselare
In close consultation with the City and the contractor Christiaens, a nuisance reduction plan has been rolled out to protect the neighbourhood and the nearby Vives University College from as much traffic disruption and noise pollution as possible during the works. The city council welcomes the arrival of 't Groen Hart and has been closely following this special project for years. A new use for the abandoned hospital site had been sought for a long time. The City provided clear guidelines from the outset through a clear RUP (spatial implementation plan). The commitments and ambitions for this redevelopment were also laid down in a Brownfield Covenant between the Flemish Government, the developers, the City of Roeselare and the Province of West Flanders.
This project takes into account everything that this site should be in modern Roeselare: a place where there is room for nature, people, tranquillity and caring for one another. It is no secret that our city centre is a people-friendly place where people like to live. That is why there is a need for a greater supply of high-quality, sustainable housing for young families, senior citizens and those in need of care. And this without compromising on quality of life. This project sets a good example.
If everything goes according to plan, the first residents will move in in 2029. Prices for the flats in 't Groen Hart start at €249,000 (excluding costs). If you would like to know more about the project, please visit https://tgroenhart.be/.
