The municipality of Assen will build 160 flex homes together with housing corporation Actium. This takes place on the residential and work lots on the Groene Dijk on the west side of Assen.
The plans concern the terrain at the Assen Hockey Association and the fire station. The flexible homes, part of which will be rented out, will be available for a period of 20 years.
Just like in the rest of Drenthe, waiting times for a rental home are increasing in Assen. Anyone who registers now will be on the Actium housing corporation list for 6 years. And the corporation would like to shorten those waiting times, says director Rein Swart. “The flexible living is mainly intended to take the pressure off and shorten the waiting lists.”
The social rental homes are therefore intended for people who are currently having difficulty finding a home, such as young people and first-time buyers. Emergencies and status holders can also be accommodated in the flex home. “We think it is important that a mix of target groups will live there, so that a social function may also arise. Like young people who help status holders with Dutch, that is why there will also be a common space. But how we interpret it, that we don’t know exactly yet,” continues Swart.
No housing units, but smaller types of homes are being built. For example, studios, two-room apartments and houses with a maximum of two bedrooms. “A mix of different housing types, with rents between 500 and 600 euros,” explains Swart.
Cor Staal, alderman of the municipality of Assen, is also pleased that the municipality can contribute to these temporary homes. “There is a housing shortage in Assen. There are still a number of projects underway, such as the Havenkade and in the city centre. But that will take a while before it is ready. With these flex homes we can quickly provide the necessary living spaces.”
The municipality and Actium have opted for the Groene Dijk because there are already connections for electricity, water and sewerage. In addition, it is close to facilities such as shops, schools, public transport and healthcare. “Despite the fact that it is temporary, there must be a pleasant living environment for future residents, so that a real residential neighborhood is created,” says the alderman.
Because all facilities are already there, construction can start quickly. underlines alderman Staal. “If all goes well, the decisions will have been taken by the city council and Actium at the end of this year. Then we could start building the homes by the middle of next year.”
That construction does not happen on the Groene Dijk, but mainly in the factory. The houses and apartments are already largely assembled there, so that they can be placed on location. “This not only saves nitrogen emissions, but it also speeds up the process on location,” says Staal.
Actium director Swart also hopes that when the homes leave after twenty years, they will be moved to other places where flex homes are needed. “That is why we build them of good quality and you are sustainably reusing the house.”
Both do not yet know what the exact costs are for the project. “But an estimate is that it will cost 1.5 to 2 tons per home,” says Swart. The housing association does not pay for all this itself, but also relies on a subsidy from the government.