Zwolle faces a significant and urgent housing challenge and is now consciously choosing a different order in decision-making: first, together with residents and partners, developing area visions, and only later establishing the Supplementary Environmental Vision. This way, the municipality retains control over the land through the right of preference and allows more time to carefully shape plans with participation. 

More time for participation
This autumn, residents can formally provide their feedback on the Draft Environmental Vision by submitting their opinions. Additionally, we are preparing the participation in the area visions. We will discuss with the community how residents want to be involved in the process and what factual knowledge from the area is valuable for the municipality. All opinions will also be answered and subsequently established by the municipal council. Some of those responses can be immediately incorporated into the area processes, while others belong to the Supplementary Environmental Vision and will be addressed later.

Preservation of control
Establishing the Supplementary Environmental Vision later prevents loss of control, higher costs, and loss of quality. It ensures that residents have earlier and more concrete influence on the design of their living environment, while the municipality simultaneously maintains control over affordability, livability, and quality of the new neighborhoods.

Councilor Gerdien Rots: Zwolle is growing, and we want to do this with the city. Therefore, we take the time to make the right choices together with residents, entrepreneurs, and organizations for the area visions Vechtrand and Zwolle Zuid-zuid. With the adjusted planning, the municipality maintains control over the land and creates more space for a careful process, where the wishes, concerns, and ideas of residents and partners are given a place from the very beginning.

Thinking along and participating
In the area processes, the values of the environment are central. Think of landscape, nature, and recreation, but also accessibility, facilities, and cultural history. Residents and organizations that know the areas well can often provide valuable insights: which places should be preserved, what opportunities exist for improvement, and what concerns

are there? By gathering that knowledge and experiences, plans are developed that better align with what the city needs.

The conversation with the community takes place in meetings, area discussions, and also digitally. Through www.zwolle.nl/omgevingsvisie, everyone is kept informed and can share ideas and feedback.

Planning

Autumn 2025 – Meeting with residents and entrepreneurs from Zwolle-Zuid/south and Vechtrand.

October 27 to December 8, 2025 – The draft of the Supplementary Environmental Vision and the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will be available for inspection immediately after the autumn break until December 8.

Residents can provide a formal response in the form of an opinion during this period.

December 8, 2025 to February 2026 – The municipality collects and answers all opinions. Distinction is made between responses that are immediately incorporated into the area processes and those that belong to the Supplementary Environmental Vision.

Early 2026 – After the Christmas break, the start of the area processes Vechtrand and Zwolle-Zuid/south. Residents and stakeholders will be invited for this.

More information can be found at www.zwolle.nl/omgevingsvisie