Metzeschmelz Project Visit: First Residents Expected by 2031

On 29 April 2026, Luxembourg’s Ministry of State and the Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning together with Luxembourg urban developer AGORA presented a progress update on the Metzeschmelz urban redevelopment project, confirming first residents are expected by 2031.

The visit was carried out by Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden and the Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning, Claude Meisch, in the presence of Christian Weis, Mayor of Esch-sur-Alzette, Carlo Feiereisen, Mayor of Schifflange, as well as representatives of AGORA.

According to the ministries, Metzeschmelz, located between Esch-sur-Alzette and Schifflange, is a flagship project for the development of the south of the country.

On an area of 63 hectares, it aims to transform a former steel brownfield site into a mixed, sustainable and future-oriented district. Ultimately, the project foresees nearly 803,477 m² of gross built area, around 4,360 housing units, a capacity of 8,000 to 10,000 inhabitants, as well as the creation of around 7,880 jobs.

AGORA highlighted that 30% of residential areas will be dedicated to affordable housing, a proportion higher than regulatory requirements.

The ministries noted that the project is progressing through several preparatory and regulatory aspects. AGORA’s teams have intensified planning studies, plot testing, the preparation of the first detailed development plans (PAP), as well as the continuation of the environmental impact study. At the same time, work related to remediation, the enhancement of protected heritage and the development of infrastructure is entering a more concrete phase, with the launch of basic engineering.

The transformation of Metzeschmelz is part of a long-term urban vision, based on mixed uses and a reduction of dependence on the car, pointed out the ministries, adding that the project includes sustainable mobility solutions, quality public spaces, integrated water management, the renaturation of the Alzette, as well as an “ambitious enhancement” of the existing industrial heritage.

Minister Frieden said: “Allowing everyone to access quality housing remains an absolute priority for the Government. To achieve this, we are resolutely pursuing our ambition to build more, and more quickly. Metzeschmelz is a project that fully fits into this dynamic. It illustrates our desire to develop affordable and sustainable housing, going beyond the simple creation of housing by transforming a former industrial site into a new district where the well-being of residents, their quality of life and respect for the environment are at the centre.”

Minister Meisch added: “The new Metzeschmelz district is now taking shape and opening promising prospects for the entire region. As a structuring element of the development of the south of the country, it carries an ambitious vision, that of a mixed, sustainable district designed for the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s residents. By bringing together housing, economic activities and leisure spaces, it will be able to accommodate up to 10,000 residents and create numerous jobs. This national scale will give rise to a new district linking Esch-sur-Alzette and Schifflange harmoniously.”

AGORA continued: “The visit of the Prime Minister, Luc Frieden, and the minister of Housing and Spatial Planning, Claude Meisch, marks an important milestone for Metzeschmelz. This project illustrates our desire to transform an exceptional industrial heritage into an exemplary, accessible, sustainable district deeply rooted in the needs of the country. With 30% affordable housing and a first arrival of residents planned by 2031, Metzeschmelz aims to become a reference for urban redevelopment in Luxembourg.”