New depot (Wissenhage) in Ghent (Wondelgem)
De Lijn needs a new depot and workshop. The current depots in Gentbrugge and Destelbergen are facing a severe shortage of space. They lack the necessary facilities and there is insufficient room to switch to electric buses and modern trams. Additionally, more tram lines are being introduced, requiring even more space to park trams.
On July 30, 2024, the permit was approved by the outgoing Flemish Minister of Environment. There was an appeal filed against the granted permit. In August 2025, De Lijn will start necessary works for which no permit is required, works that we are obliged to do as the owner of the site. This includes trimming the bushes and Japanese knotweed, repairing the vandalized fence, and conducting the mandatory groundwater remediation.
On this page you will find more background information about the new depot Wissenhage in Ghent (Wondelgem):
The project in a nutshell
Our most climate-friendly depot
Filling an accessible piece of greenery
The project in a nutshell
About 20 years ago we bought the site near Wondelgem from the city of Ghent to build a new depot. The site was seriously contaminated and therefore unsuitable for the creation of a publicly accessible space without exorbitant remediation costs. Its proximity to the ring road and several key bus routes in the north of Ghent added to the location’s suitability. Several other locations in and around Ghent were investigated, but most of them were too far from the bus and tram routes or had been assigned some other purpose in the meantime.
“The new depot will enable us to make public transport in and around Ghent ready for the future: more sustainable, efficient and better.”
We made preparations for the arrival of the depot. We built a bridge, the Gaardeniersbrug, to provide access to the trams. A new cycle path was also constructed. We made plans for the new depot and cleaned up the pollution from a small part of the site.
For various reasons, construction work on the site was postponed, which meant that a new permit had to be applied for. The final environmental permit application was refused due to a problem with deforestation compensation. There were also a number of objections from local residents.
The plans for the depot were further optimised last year to take account of the concerns of local residents and the city of Gent as far as possible.
On February 20, 2024, we organized an information evening for the neighborhood where we explained the amended environmental permit. Couldn't be there?
On 30 September 2023 we organised an information session about the plans. More than a hundred local residents and interested parties dropped in. Were you unable to be there?
Our most climate-friendly depot
The new Ghent depot will be a climate-neutral depot - a selection of the many green measures:
About half of the site (including green roofs) remains unpaved
Where possible, we retain the existing greenery and elsewhere on the site we only plant local greenery, including trees, hedges and flower meadows.
There will be nesting boxes for birds and bats and two wildlife towers will be built near the site.
We provide nocturnal animal-friendly lighting.
18,000 m² of green roofs
Three large water basins that can provide shelter for amphibians such as the common toad.
1,500 solar panels
The site's heating will run entirely on heat pumps.
We recover rainwater for both the vehicle washing system and the sanitary facilities.
Deciding what to do with an accessible green area
Between Hurstweg and the railway there is currently a wooded area of 2.7 hectares, or almost the size of four football pitches. This land was intended in the initial plans as a practice area for the driving school. Together with the construction of the depot, De Lijn wants to make this piece of land accessible to the local community, under the management of Natuurpunt. A workshop was organised with the local community in October 2023 at which we collected ideas for the site’s use. The layout of the site is still being further developed. Remediation will also be required at this site.
Map of Wissenhage depot
Map of depots in Ghent
Gent 1
Gent 2
Gent 3