Residents of the Noordbarge district in Emmen would like to see a different opening in the housing plan for the former Terra College site at Noordbargerstraat. Twelve spacious, detached houses will soon be built on the old school grounds. The new neighborhood will soon only be accessible from the eastern Scheperstraat. Neighborhood residents would rather see the former and western access road to the parking lot of the now demolished school used for this purpose.
The houses will be on the site of the former pre-vocational secondary education location. The building, dating from 1978, has since been demolished. Since 2020, the students have been living in a brand new accommodation on Huizingsbrinkweg, together with those from MBO.
Project developers Peter van Dijk and Bemog devised the current plan for the space that has become available. Tonight there was a walk-in evening in hotel Ten Cate on Noordbargerstraat. There seems to be no objection to the houses themselves.
The plan fits in well with the rustic character of Noordbarge, says board member Sikko Boelema of Local Interest Noordbarge. “We are pleased that there will be no offices or expansion of the Jehovah’s Witnesses (the head office is adjacent to the relevant site, ed.).” The district manager is less happy with the choice for access.
With the current choice, most of the traffic has to pass through the neighbourhood. The village council fears that this will lead to extra traffic pressure and possible unsafety. Then prefer the former access road to the car park as an alternative. In that case, the new residents will reach the Ermerweg more quickly. Boelema is surprised that the Scheperstraat was chosen after all. “Since we informed the municipality of our preference more than a year ago.”
Project developer Van Dijk, who was present during the walk-in, was able to understand this noise, and as a developer he is only responsible for the habitation and not the handling of traffic. “We have to contact the municipality for this. They are responsible for the layout.”
Van Dijk promised to contact the municipality immediately in the morning. According to him, a number of traffic variants were reviewed and this set-up subsequently emerged. As far as he is concerned, residents can count on the cooperation of him and Bemog. “We are willing to adjust things.”
With regard to the realization of the twelve homes, Van Dijk expects to give the go-ahead for construction by the end of the year. The zoning plan change is currently underway and the permits will be applied for in good time. The construction contract will soon go to a number of contractors. Within two months, it must be announced who will be responsible for the construction. The prices will also be announced at that time.
There is no shortage of interest. According to Van Dijk, ninety people have registered for one of the homes. These will have a rural appearance (barn house/farm house) that connect to each other.