With more than 10,000 inhabitants spread over an area of 7.71 km2, Schifflange is one of Luxembourg's most densely populated municipalities. Aware of its particularities and concerned about the well-being of its population, the town is now seeking to reconcile quality housing, the development of new economic activities and the preservation of the environment.

"We passed the 10,000 inhabitant mark in March 2016, which makes Schifflange one of the largest municipalities in the country in terms of number of inhabitants and one of the smallest in terms of surface area. This constraint in terms of available space means that we have to think carefully about our future development," says Roland Schreiner, mayor of this southern municipality, which borders on Esch-sur-Alzette.

Since 2013, this so-called "unisectional" municipality - it has only one entity - has put in place a new General Development Plan (PAG), the aim of which is to reconcile the construction of new housing with the development of economic activities and the preservation of the natural environment. In Schifflange, the objective is not to build everywhere, but to ensure a quality of life for all inhabitants, present and future. "The town can still grow, but we expect to reach our natural limits at around 12,000 inhabitants," says the mayor. This still leaves room for some developments, and there are many.

A changing city centre

One of the key projects in Schifflange is the removal of the three level crossings that cut the town in two and have a negative impact on mobility, creating traffic jams at peak times. The removal of the level crossings is accompanied by a complete redevelopment of the town centre, the railway station and the surrounding area. A new street has already been built to serve a first tunnel under the tracks. The work, which will start in earnest by the end of this year, is expected to be completed by spring 2019. "These works will enable the complete upgrading of our city centre, in order to make it more user-friendly and more pleasant to live in," adds Roland Schreiner. This modernisation is accompanied by a soft mobility project with the construction of a cycle path along the railway tracks. This path will eventually link the eastern and western ends of the municipality.

On the real estate front, several projects are currently underway that will enable Schifflange to attract more inhabitants in the months and years to come. The Cité Op Hudelen is currently being completed. It comprises a total of more than 400 flats and single-family houses. In the immediate vicinity of the centre, along the new street that was built as part of the removal of the level crossings, a project with 152 dwellings is being built. At the end of the same street, which leads into the city centre, the municipality will construct a new building with shops on the ground floor, future municipal offices on the first floor, and 25 student flats on the second and third floors. Other projects, both private and public, will be built in the near future. 55 flats, including 18 at a preferential rate for young people in the municipality who cannot afford to rent privately, are currently being studied.

An ideal location between Esch and Luxembourg

"From the point of view of mobility, Schifflange is ideally located on a national scale. With our train station, located on the Esch-Luxembourg axis, we can quickly reach the capital, Esch-sur-Alzette, and its Belval campus. The motorway is just a stone's throw away and we are perfectly served by the TICE bus network. For us, all roads are short", Roland Schreiner continues.

Schifflange is a steel town with a glorious past. "My father and grandfather worked for Arbed," the mayor says, proud of his history. Today, however, the municipality has completely turned the page on Arcelor-Mittal and looks to the future with optimism. "In practice, the Esch-Schifflange site has been closed since 2012. Our territory is small, but we are ensuring its harmonious economic development. In addition to the Um Monkeler industrial zone, which is mainly reserved for heavy industry, the municipality is working on the development of a new trade and commercial zone. This will be located in the direction of Foetz and will link Schifflange to the Foetz commercial zone. The first infrastructure work will be carried out next year and the first small and medium-sized businesses are expected to open in 2018.

Property advertisements in Schifflange

Two green lungs and many activities

Schifflange is a city with a heterogeneous population, where integration goes smoothly. Every day, Schifflange welcomes some 1,000 schoolchildren who attend one of the three schools in the entity. In September 2015, a centre for 350 children was inaugurated. It receives children both during the school year and during the holidays. Not far from there, the youth centre offers teenagers a wide range of activities all year round. The associative world is just as dynamic, since Schifflange has about a hundred sports, cultural and leisure associations. And there is something for everyone. "With two football pitches, an athletics track, a tennis hall, and gyms available to associations in the evenings, we make sure to support this associative life, which contributes in a very important way to the social development of the town and to the supervision of young people. The construction of a new cultural centre is being studied to provide a better working environment for cultural associations such as the wind band and the choir.

Concerned about its harmonious development, the town of Schifflange is fortunate to be located between two major ecological reserves, the real lungs of the town. To the south, the "Brucherbierg-Lallingerbierg" area, recognised as a protected area of national interest, forms the border with the communes of Esch and Kayl. To the north, the "Am Brill" reserve is crossed by the Alzette, which has regained its natural course. The floodplain around the river is protected, with its specific fauna and flora. It is also a popular resting place for migratory birds on their long journeys, where they stop to feed and regain their strength. It is like a city of Schifflange where life is good.