Beautiful results
The Provincial Executive reviewed the interim balance halfway through the coalition period regarding the agreements from the coalition agreement of 2023. The implementation of this agreement is largely on schedule. Beautiful results have been achieved. For instance, we closed several successful Village Deals, which improved livability in villages and neighborhoods. We addressed traffic unsafe locations. In agriculture, we ensured innovation and goal-oriented management, allowing farmers more freedom to determine how they meet the set goals. Additionally, we are working on the development of a small nuclear power plant, also known as Small Modular Reactor (SMR). This puts Gelderland at the forefront in the Netherlands. Business parks are being revitalized together, and young companies receive support in their growth.
New developments
Since 2023, the world has changed significantly. Developments in the Netherlands and beyond mean that some issues now require extra attention.
The nitrogen problem puts pressure on permit issuance, the full electricity grid (grid congestion) hinders sustainability, and housing shortages demand quick and smart solutions. Additionally, municipalities have less money to spend.
Together with Gelderlanders
Together with the national government, municipalities, businesses, institutions, and of course our residents, we invest in solutions that are practical and can be implemented within a few years. To involve them, we organized 2 meetings and conducted a resident survey. Over 1,600 people indicated that housing is the most important theme for the coming years (40%), followed by nature (28%) and livability (25%).
We are proud of what we have achieved!
At the same time, we see that the world around us is changing rapidly and that our residents are concerned about their future, work, having a roof over their heads, and the livability of their village or city. With these investments, we can take extra steps in the coming 2 years for a livable Gelderland.
Province of Gelderland
Concrete proposals by theme
Housing construction
The housing shortage remains high. Therefore, we invest in accelerating the number of homes with subsidies for splitting and adding stories (extra floor on existing homes). We help municipalities with manpower to solve bottlenecks in housing projects, establish a housing academy for lateral entrants, and allocate extra funds for land purchases, even within built-up areas.
Municipalities
Gelderland municipalities are receiving less and less money, while the number of tasks is increasing. We assist municipalities through targeted programs so that projects do not come to a standstill. Municipalities are important for a livable Gelderland. We provide subsidies so that municipalities can continue to stimulate livability. We also invest in several traffic safety projects, such as the N322 and N303.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen remains one of the biggest challenges. Gelderland must get off the lock as soon as possible. To get permit issuance and nature restoration back on track, the Provincial Executive established the nitrogen acceleration approach. Special attention is being paid to the Veluwe and Winterswijk. We continue to consult intensively with the national government for a good solution for the PAS reporters; farmers who, through no fault of their own, do not have a permit. The executive board also continues to invest in innovations, such as the measurement networks that measure nitrogen emissions per location or company. In the interim balance, we reserve € 72 million to make all this possible.
Grid congestion and energy
The full electricity grid demands quick action. We are already investing heavily in this, but the executive board wants to do more. Think of reducing peak loads (peaks due to high electricity consumption), accelerating innovations such as small nuclear power plants (SMRs), implementing climate policy, and making infrastructure sustainable, such as the Gelderland ferries and reopening the subsidy scheme for making homes more sustainable.
Money
To implement these extra proposals, funding is available. In total, the executive board invests € 190.7 million for the proposals from the interim balance. This is in addition to the € 400 million reserved at the beginning of this coalition period for the implementation of the coalition agreement. Additionally, there is money that has been allocated for a different purpose (new for old). This amounts to € 233.3 million. Thus, the total budget after the interim balance for this governance period amounts to over € 800 million.