The municipality of Hoogeveen wants to investigate whether recreation parks Nuilerveld in Pesse, Bungalowpark Schoonhoven in Hollandscheveld and Villapark Martensplek in Tiendeveen can be given a residential destination.
The discussion about living in parks has been going on for decades. It is a complex and sensitive issue that has been contributed to by tolerance constructions and a lack of enforcement by municipalities.
In addition to residents with a legal residence permit, people with social problems or people who want to remain under the radar because of criminal or subversive activities have also settled permanently at recreation parks.
In 2017, recreational entrepreneurs, owners of holiday homes, the province of Drenthe and all Drenthe municipalities, among others, jointly signed a covenant. The aim is to strengthen the tourism-recreational sector and to give non-vital holiday parks a different destination, including housing.
Too little future
A scan of the vitality of the Nuilerveld, Schoonhoven and Martensplek holiday parks shows that they have too little prospect for the future as a recreational destination. For example, the park does not or hardly meets the demand of tourists, there are no communal facilities, there is no reception and there is hardly any recreation.
The Municipal Personal Records Database (BRP) was approached to gain insight into recent data on occupation at these parks. It showed that between 44 and 85 percent of the residents live there permanently.
On Schoonhoven, 74 of the 87 holiday homes are permanently inhabited, on the Nuilerveld this is the case with 82 of the 124 bungalows and on Martensplek 11 of the 25 villas. Some of them have a personal and object-related tolerance decision.
Interests
The municipality of Hoogeveen wants to support these three recreation parks in applying for the necessary zoning change. According to the Municipal Executive, the various interests, including those of current holidaymakers, are taken into account. Talks about this have already led to tensions in the past.
The road is therefore still long and uncertain, with various moments of choice for both the municipality and the owners of holiday homes. According to the municipality, it is important that the majority of the owners of each park continue to participate in the process. “If the rinse becomes too thin, a reconsideration on our part is necessary,” it is said.
The conclusion of the study into a residential destination may also be that it is not possible due to obstacles in legislation and regulations. The park itself can also decide to stop the transformation. In all these cases, a revitalization process will follow, which will look at how the park can once again have a recreational function.
Enforcement
In doing so, illegal situations are enforced. People who live illegally then have to look for a regular rental or owner-occupied home. This puts extra pressure on the already very tight housing market.
Hoogeveen has earmarked more than 650,000 euros for the transition in the coming years. The city council is asked to adopt the program plan ‘Vital Holiday Parks Hoogeveen 2023-2027’. The debate on this is on Thursday 7 September.