The province is doing what it can to build a quarter of a million homes by 2030. To ensure these houses are built and remain social and affordable, action is needed. Together with the national government, the goals are achievable, as shown in the report Housing Construction Conditions South Holland.
To build a quarter of a million good homes by 2030, South Holland urgently needs help. Too many plans get stuck due to so-called housing construction conditions, obstacles that delay or make building impossible. In the province, this includes solving grid congestion, unprofitable peaks, investment capacity of housing corporations, enough people in construction and government, slow procedures and objections, mobility, and of course the nitrogen lock.
90% dependent
South Holland cannot remove these obstacles entirely on its own. For example, 90% of the solution to the nitrogen problem lies with the national government. Also, for tax measures, decisions about infrastructure, and nature regulations, the government is wholly or partially responsible. The province is eager to work with the Minister for Housing to raise these issues higher on the agenda.
At the national level, the urgency to intervene is also recognized, which pleases Deputy Anne Koning. “Just last week we received over 600 million to build roads and homes. We also see that the Council of State, often asked to decide on objections to housing plans, is providing clarity somewhat faster. That is a huge gain. Still, I hope we can all move even faster.”
Taking action ourselves
The province is already taking action itself. Sometimes this means doing things differently. For example, South Holland has started the BATMAN project to grant nature permits faster. A special Realization program has also been launched by South Holland to turn paper plans into good homes more quickly.
Furthermore, hundreds of millions have recently been invested in public transport and road networks, municipalities are being helped to reduce grid congestion, and the province itself is taking steps with the nitrogen approach SANE. Additionally, subsidies, flying brigades, and pilots are available to assist municipalities and builders.
Alarm phase one
“It is alarm phase one for home seekers,” says Koning. “It is inexplicable that in, for example, the Rotterdam region, people have to wait more than 52 months on a housing waiting list. Last year, there were 105,000 active home seekers there for social rental housing alone. So we must build, and quickly. We can only do this by working very hard together as national and provincial governments on solutions.”
Todays presented report shows that this call is not in vain. At the vast majority of all planned building locations, one or often multiple building obstacles play a role. If South Holland really wants to reach the nearly quarter million new homes by 2030, urgent action is needed.