THE BRDA

The Brussels Regional Development Agency (BRDA) is a pararegional public institution that was created in 1974.

The BRDA has as its mission attracting and keeping high value added industrial, semi-industrial, crafts and services companies in the region by providing them with real estate infrastructure (plots of land or buildings) at attractive prices.

It acquires and develops sites and manages their occupation potential.

Currently the BRDA manages a total area of 193 hectares of scientific and industrial parks and plots for companies and 75,000 m2 of buildings, distributed over 43 different sites in the Brussels-Capital Region. Thanks to this mission, the BRDA encourages economic development and promotes employment in the Brussels-Capital Region.

Companies that want to be established on the plots or in the buildings of the BRDA must meet the criteria for activity and employment determined by the BRDA Board of Directors. You will find the description of the criteria on the website www.sdrb.be, under the tab labelled “undertake”.

Pricing

The plots are made available through a long-term lease agreement with a duration of 30 years, renewable, by means of a rent called a “ ground rent ”. The ground rent represents 4% of the monetary value of the plot. This rent is indexed each year.

What are the advantages of a long-term lease ?

  • The registration fees are reduced to 0.02% (instead of 12.5% for sales) ;
  • The formula makes it possible to release liquid assets for the construction of the building and for the financing of the activity ;
  • For those subject to the VAT, the construction is net of tax (0% VAT regime) ;
  • Where putting together financing packages is concerned, the BRDA long-term lease makes it possible to envisage varied packages and to create real guarantees (mortgage, area for leasing, etc.) ;
  • The formula is also ideal for optimising the regional subsidies.

Reductions of the ground rent

The BRDA can grant reductions of the ground rent, in particular when a company :

  • develops a research-based relationship with a Brussels university or school for higher learning ;
  • at the request of the BRDA, develops facilities which are open to all of the employees of the other companies established on the site (day care centre, snack shop, fitness salon, etc.), which helps to improve the site’s attractiveness;
  • especially promotes low-skill employment or stimulates professional training leading to the integration of low-skilled workers.