Edith Cavell hospital prepares for move to Auderghem

The number of babies born in Uccle will nosedive from next month when one of Belgium's busiest maternity wards moves to a brand new home.

Edith Cavell hospital - named after the British nurse and first world war hero - welcomes 3,200 babies into the world each year. From 9 December, the first mums in labour will be admitted to maternity facilities at a newly built hospital at Delta in Auderghem (pictured).

The current site in Uccle, on the road bearing Cavell's name, will be demolished to make way for 150 mostly two- and three-bedroom apartments, shops and parking spaces. A very small part of the Cavell site, on Rue Vanderkindere, will remain a medical facility.

The sale generated €28 million for the hospital's parent organisation, Chirec, which also operates clinics at Parc Léopold, Ganshoren, Anderlecht and Braine l'Alleud.

The property development, which has a €70 million budget, is subject to a public consultation which closes on 20 November. A final decision on the project will be made by the municipality on 6 December.

Shops in the neighbourhood are worried about loss of trade between the hospital's closure next month and the planned completion of the building project in 2021.