News item | 06-07-2022 | 14:00
The Netherlands is on the eve of a major renovation. We want sufficient sustainable and affordable housing, switch to sustainable energy generation and make the switch to circular agriculture with a healthy and diverse nature. A lot has to be done in a small area. This requires choices, smart combinations and innovations. The central government is therefore taking back national control of spatial planning. Not only for a fair distribution of space, but also to preserve the quality of the living environment for future generations.
That is what Minister De Jonge (Public Housing and Spatial Planning) writes in the NOVEX and Beautiful Netherlands programs that were sent to the House of Representatives today. With the programmes, the minister provides clarity about the process and planning of the ‘renovation’ and gives an impulse to spatial quality.
Spatial Puzzle
The major tasks in areas such as public housing, the transition of rural areas and the generation of sustainable energy are now being worked out in national programs by various ministries. The choices that are made in this respect will land spatially in the provinces. The direction is via the NOVEX programme.
In October 2022, Minister De Jonge will present the spatial assignments to each province in a starter package. The 12 provinces are being asked to spatially translate the national tasks and goals, to integrate them and to combine them with decentralized tasks. Then it will be clear which spatial choices are required and where spatial tasks can be achieved. In October 2023, the central government and the province will agree on a spatial arrangement per province.
In addition to spatial management per province, area-oriented management is also being used in the 16 so-called NOVEX areas – including Schiphol and Het Groene Hart. Many national tasks come together in these areas, the transition is far-reaching or transcends the boundaries of the province. With a view to future-proofing the choices made, water and soil play a leading and determining role.
Shared vision of the future
Spatial quality is central to the ‘Beautiful Netherlands’ programme. The program works on a shared picture of the future of our country and arranges new concepts for the layout of areas.
Minister De Jonge: “The restoration of our traditions in spatial planning offers the opportunity to do what we are good at. Together with provinces, municipalities, water boards and everyone who wants to think and act. The spatial tasks facing us are immense. In order to steer it in the right direction, we have to take back control. It is a matter of stewardship. We owe it to our children and grandchildren to think several generations ahead. That is why we have to make choices that lead to a beautiful and future-oriented country that we can pass on with pride.”
Sharpen and accelerate
Three perspectives are central to the management of spatial planning: agriculture and nature; networks for energy and our economy, and liveable cities and regions. ‘Mooi Nederland’ outlines three concepts that have yet to be developed that can be applied at an area level for each perspective. For example, concepts about combating ‘clutter’ by allowing large-scale business locations, together with other assignments, to blend in nicely with the landscape. Or the application of ‘green’ against heat stress and flooding in inner-city densification. Another concept in ‘Beautiful Netherlands’ is the cultivation of ‘biobased’ building materials such as fiber crops. It strengthens the landscape, it reduces CO2 emissions and makes housing more sustainable.
The Mooi Nederland and NOVEX programs regulate the fine-tuning and acceleration of the National Environmental Vision (NOVI). The aim is to adopt the tightened NOVI in 2024 as a national spatial policy.