SPI, the territorial development agency for the province of Liège, has inaugurated a new relay building at the Intervapeur site in Verviers. This facility aims to host businesses in the heart of the city. The inauguration was attended by the Mayor of Verviers, the President of SPI, and a representative of Minister François Desquesnes.
The Intervapeur site, formerly dedicated to steam heating for the textile industry, was at risk of becoming an industrial wasteland after its activities ceased in 2003. The City of Verviers, with the support of Wallonia and European FEDER funds, entrusted SPI with the task of cleaning up and redeveloping this 7-hectare site, with 3.7 hectares now dedicated to an urban business park.
This new relay building, with a total area of 627 m², complements the site's offerings. It was built with Walloon subsidies following the July 2021 floods and comprises three independent modules, each with a workshop, offices, and necessary ancillary spaces. The workshops, ranging from 100 to 200 m², are designed for SMEs and artisans seeking an urban location. The project was led by the Verviers-based firm AUPa, with Lemaire Ingénieurs and Moury Construction.
« Our mission is to create favorable conditions for economic activity. This relay building is a concrete response to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises wishing to develop close to the city center and major transport routes, » emphasized the President of Spi.
The Intervapeur site already hosts several companies and a training center run by Forem and IFAPME. The new relay building is already attracting interest: one wing is occupied by a company specializing in workwear distribution, planning to expand from two to five employees. Another wing is also generating significant interest from a local business.
The Mayor of Verviers welcomed this additional tool for attracting and supporting businesses, calling it an « excellent piece of news for employment, economic activity, and the development of our city ».
Designed for energy efficiency, the building is equipped with photovoltaic panels, heat pumps, rainwater harvesting systems, and integrated stormwater management. The total investment amounts to nearly 1.4 million euros, with 1.2 million subsidized by the Walloon Region.
The representative of Minister François Desquesnes concluded that this project demonstrates Wallonia's commitment to supporting the redevelopment of brownfield sites, local economic development, and territorial resilience, making Intervapeur a concrete example of successful urban redeployment.
For more information, interested companies can contact 04/230 11 22.
