Construction of potentially up to 470,000 homes in the Netherlands is in jeopardy, according to experts, due to a recent guideline issued by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water
Management. The guideline outlines various safety and environmental requirements that developers must meet for construction projects to proceed. A newly published map, which categorizes land across the country based on risk factors, indicates areas where additional regulations may be necessary before construction can commence.
Despite the Netherlands having ample open spaces, many of these areas are deemed vulnerable to issues such as water safety, flooding, subsidence, and access to essential resources like drinking water and electricity. The ministry's map aims to highlight areas requiring intervention, at a time when the demand for housing in the country is pressing.
Taco van Hoek, director of the EIB, expressed concern over the implications of the guideline, stating that only a fraction of the proposed homes can proceed without significant adjustments. He emphasized that the map's release would impact housing construction, potentially leading to increased costs and scarcity.
The map color-codes regions based on the severity of necessary adaptations, with orange areas requiring major adjustments. Notably, Amsterdam's planned Haven-Stad district falls within an orange zone, prompting the need for stricter regulations, particularly concerning water safety.
While the ministry stresses that the map serves as advisory, Friso de Zeeuw, a professor at TU Delft specializing in spatial planning, warns of unintended consequences. He argues that the guideline could complicate housing construction by adding bureaucratic hurdles, as local authorities must now navigate additional requirements with water boards.
Concerns also arise regarding restrictions on building in certain areas due to perceived risks, such as potential water encroachment in low-lying regions. Despite existing flood defenses, the ministry remains cautious, sparking debates over the balance between risk aversion and social progress.
Moreover, the designation of nature reserves as green areas on the map, where construction is prohibited, raises questions about the broader implications of stringent regulations.
Van Hoek questions the rationale behind imposing limitations based on distant climate projections, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to risk management to avoid hindering societal development.
In essence, the release of the ministry's guideline and accompanying map underscores the complexities of balancing environmental concerns with the urgent need for housing, sparking discussions on the best path forward for sustainable development in the Netherlands.