News item | 29-03-2023 | 08:00
Minister Hugo de Jonge wants to use Central Government Real Estate more for major social challenges, such as housing, generating sustainable energy and housing vulnerable target groups. In order to perform these tasks properly, the Central Government Real Estate Agency is setting up a new management board.
The Central Government Real Estate Agency (RVB) manages 82,615 hectares of land and 11.7 million m2 of buildings on behalf of the central government. The government believes that the RVB can make an important contribution to spatial development in our country due to this large amount of real estate.
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Housing construction
State land is also used for the construction of homes, which means that it is expected that 25,000 – 35,000 homes can be realized at the Almere Pampus location and 15,000 (and possibly 20,000) at the Almere Oosterwold location. Furthermore, 9,000 to 16,000 homes at the Lelystad Warande location. 5,600 homes are planned at Valkenhorst in Katwijk. Housing units will be built in buildings that are no longer needed for government housing, such as former prisons. Due to the increase in hybrid working, the need for government offices may decrease, which means that transformation into apartments is becoming an option.
Housing
For several years now, the RVB has been contributing to the accommodation of vulnerable target groups such as asylum seekers, status holders and Ukrainians through the use of government buildings. In addition, it supports the acceleration of housing through the purchase of flex homes and through the transformation of superfluous government buildings. This also includes starters, students and labor migrants. Locations are being developed in Maastricht and Leeuwarden where young people can live, in combination with learning and working.
Ground
The current agricultural land of the RVB will become available more often in the future to relocate agricultural companies if they cannot be continued at their original location. In addition, the RVB will develop a strategy with the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations to acquire agricultural land and release it specifically from (ground) lease so that the land stock remains up to standard. The spatial development goals of the NOVI and the agricultural and nature goals of the National Rural Area Program (NPLG) are central to this. A National Land Bank has already been set up to support the NPLG.
The RVB is also committed to making the Netherlands more sustainable. This is done by generating sustainable energy on government land, through circular and biobased construction, and by making government real estate more sustainable.
New management
The Central Government Real Estate Agency is an executive organization with central government housing and management as its core tasks. In order to fulfill the aforementioned assignment from the cabinet, the RVB is setting up a new directorate: Area and Property Development. The RVB will work together with fellow authorities on the transformation of buildings and areas. In addition, it is mandated to make agreements with the parties involved about the realization of concrete projects.