News item | 12-10-2022 | 1:00 pm
Wim Kuijken, former Delta Commissioner, presented his independent advice ‘Perspective for the Gnephoek and the surrounding area’ to Minister Hugo de Jonge for Housing and Spatial Planning. Kuijken considers a scenario with 5,500 new homes in the Gnephoek in Alphen aan den Rijn to be the most realistic. Minister De Jonge accepts the advice and has the preferred scenario elaborated further.
Minister Hugo de Jonge: ‘I see this advice as a breakthrough. With this preferred scenario, from the independent advice of Wim Kuijken, after years of talking and discussion, there is now a clear and realistic preferred scenario for the Gnephoek. It is now important to come to a final decision for the Gnephoek together with the province, municipality, Hoogheemraadschap and the region.’
At the beginning of June, Kuijken was asked by Minister De Jonge to advise on housing in the Gnephoek. The central question was to what extent housing should and could contribute to the realization of the housing task for our country and in the region. The authorities involved have had a difference of opinion about this for some time.
5,500 homes in Gnephoek, existing natural values reinforced
In his report, Kuijken outlines four scenarios. A scenario without (extra) housing, but with a task for the rural area and three scenarios with housing of different sizes, together with nature, water and soil. According to Kuijken, the most realistic scenario contains 5,500 homes in the higher parts of the Gnephoek with solid soil conditions. He concludes that this scenario creates a perspective for the development of the polder in which the existing natural values can be strengthened. In addition, the water task and sustainable use of the soil can be tackled and a contribution can be made to the housing need and the dynamics in Alphen aan den Rijn as a municipality with more than 100,000 inhabitants.
Final decision before summer 2023
Minister De Jonge has discussed the advice with the administrators of the municipality, the province, the Water Board and the region. It has been agreed that the preferred scenario will be further elaborated and investigated. This should result in a Gnephoek Masterplan. A decision will be jointly worked on, which will be discussed at administrative level before the summer of 2023.