The new faces of urban planning – Interview with Ben Backendorf and Henning Nieboer

Faced with climate, demographic and societal challenges, local authorities need to reinvent themselves. Surrounding themselves with urban planning experts is therefore becoming a real necessity.

We meet two experts from LSC360: Henning Nieboer, Director of Traffic and Mobility Services, and Ben Backendorf, Urban Planning Services Coordinator.

• First of all, can we take a look at LSC360’s activities and its recent rebranding?

Ben Backendorf: LSC360 is a design and consulting engineering firm. We are active in many areas of engineering, such as urban planning, land use planning, the environment and infrastructure, to name a few. The name LSC360 was born out of a rebranding in November 2024, which saw the merger of seven entities that previously made up the LSC Engineering Group. These included Luxplan and Simon-Christiansen & Associés, among others.

Henning Nieboer: Today, we have 250 experts who take a holistic approach, which is very convenient for our clients. In other words, we take care of the design, implementation and construction of projects. Architecture is the only area for which we are not responsible.
Our clients come equally from the public and private sectors. In the latter case, we are talking about individuals as well as companies and developers. Public developers, the State and local authorities, on the other hand, constitute the public sector.

• On a more personal note, what are your areas of expertise?

BB: For my part, I have been working in municipal planning and urban development for over 10 years: PAG, PAP and project management assistance. It’s a job that requires you to have an overview of the situation so that you can bring together all the players and their expertise to work on the project in question.
We must be able to offer sustainable, tailor-made solutions. Like Henning here, I have been a housing advisor since 2021. My mission is to regularly monitor this issue with local authorities.

HN: We need to understand all the issues and how they interrelate. The issue of mobility, for example, has repercussions on the environment, then on energy and finally on infrastructure. All the issues are interdependent and intertwined. We therefore need to take this into account from the outset and bring together all the expertise in a joint and orderly manner. We are coordinators or mediators, in a way.

“All the themes are intertwined. It is therefore a question of bringing together all the expertise in a coordinated manner.”

Henning Nieboer

• What challenges do the municipalities you support face?

BB: The concerns of local authorities are very diverse because they face many challenges. The state produces laws and regulations that local authorities must comply with and implement. Take, for example, the 2021 Housing Pact, which required the creation of affordable housing. This is a significant responsibility, involving specialised tasks for which local authorities need support. They often lack the human and technical resources necessary to carry out this type of project. Constant regulatory and technical changes are another issue that also causes certain complexities. Finally, demographic change, such as population growth, ageing, or the arrival of a younger population bringing new ideas in terms of living arrangements, creates new problems, particularly for smaller municipalities.

HN: Mobility is another challenge for municipalities. We all feel it when we’re stuck in traffic jams in the morning and evening. This problem, like the ones Ben mentioned, is not going to get better, quite the contrary. The most obvious example of this is climate change. Municipalities must therefore react quickly, appropriately and effectively. We are here to help them.

• How do you support them in this regard? What methodology do you use?

HN: It all depends on the project, of course. We don’t have a standard approach that we apply to every project we work on. Our solutions are tailor-made.

We start with a precise and detailed analysis of the requirements, then put together a team of specialist experts, either from within our own organisation or from external design offices. The local authority’s internal departments are also involved, to ensure full and seamless collaboration.
I would like to point out that citizens must also be included, their opinions taken into account and they must be involved in creating solutions.

BB: We help the local authority to develop a comprehensive, shared strategy and vision so that challenges can be tackled in a concerted manner. As we mentioned earlier, we are working to bring together the various professions and departments and get them to interact. Beyond our own areas of expertise, we are therefore taking on the role of conductor. The objective is clear, the course is well defined and the steps are well organised.

“Our holistic approach guarantees sustainable and resilient development, enabling new ways of living to be established.”

Ben Backendorf

• Why are a holistic approach and reconnecting the different layers of land use planning so fundamental?

BB: The central idea is to create synergies to increase efficiency and relevance. This saves both time and money. This approach also guarantees sustainable and resilient development, which allows new ways of living to be established in the long term.

HN: Since everyone involved will have to adapt and change a little, it is essential that no one is left behind; everyone must be taken into account. This is also why this holistic approach is the most relevant.

I would add that the complexity of such an approach lies not in theory, but in its practical implementation. The question to ask is: how can we apply a body of knowledge that is adapted and structured to perfectly meet multiple needs and constraints?

• How do local residents react?

HN: The projects we are working on concern their living environment, their neighbourhood and their facilities. Residents therefore have no difficulty in feeling involved and integrating into the various processes, quite the contrary. All parents want the journey from home to school to be safe for their children and themselves!

They are therefore well aware that road improvements, speed limits and the use of public transport rather than diesel SUVs are preferable.

BB: We also make sure to support them through the change. Citizens can sometimes feel overwhelmed by the wave of regulations and the changes they bring to their daily lives. By involving citizens in the development of a strategy and developing a shared vision, we not only build consensus, but also facilitate the adoption of new measures with the aim of implementing concrete resilience to current and future changes.
We are committed to implementing an educational and non-restrictive approach.

• Can you give us a concrete example of this type of project?

HN: Some of the housing developments we have designed and supervised the construction of restrict access to cars. Garages are located outside the residential area. This makes it much quieter, less polluted and allows children to play in the street. On the other hand, it is a major change in habits for residents. In this respect, urban planning always reflects society and its spirit.
BB: Mixed-use neighbourhoods are also a great success. Residents do not need motor vehicles to get around; everything is within walking or cycling distance. The distinction between “living” and “working” is more fluid, and there are also many shops. These neighbourhoods are full of life, every day and at all hours. Not just at weekends or between 8am and 6pm. Everyday life there is therefore very pleasant, convenient and practical.

• How do you see the future?

BB: Today’s challenges will still be there tomorrow, and the changes that have already begun will accelerate further. It will be our role not only to propose appropriate solutions, with the necessary urgency, but also to involve everyone in facilitating the adoption of new habits.

HN: It is essential to keep in mind that everything is closely linked. We will not be relevant and sustainable by addressing each issue individually. The challenge is therefore to propose solutions that are capable of addressing all these areas in an interconnected manner. AI is, of course, one of these promising solutions, both for data collection and analysis. It is up to us to use it wisely and responsibly.

Article published in Lëtzebuerger Gemengen #268 – Photo: Yves Cortum