Residents of Manpadslaan are relieved that the new coalition of Heemstede has included in the coalition agreement to finally develop the area behind their homes. The old greenhouses will make way for housing. There will also be a nature reserve that will be called Manpad Nature Park† “We are especially happy that the access will run via Herenweg and not via Manpadslaan,” says resident Duncan Faile.
Residents are happy that something is finally going to happen to the area behind their houses. – NH News
The development of the Manpadslaan area has been discussed for twenty years, but the politicians in Heemsteed and the project developer who once bought the land could not agree on building. The new coalition agreement states that a nature park will be created that will be connected to the Groenendaal forest. The allotments will remain in place and homes will be built for different target groups.
Duncan Faile, who speaks on behalf of all residents of Manpadslaan, is pleased that there is no extra traffic on the lane. It has been decided to open up the new district via Herenweg. “A thousand walkers and cyclists pass by on the Manpadslaan during the weekend and there is simply no extra car traffic without it becoming dangerous.”
green buffer
Faile doesn’t exactly think the old greenhouses behind his house are a nice calling card for the neighborhood. He thinks it is a good thing that these are now making way for homes and nature reserves. There are, however, some concerns about where exactly those houses will be located. He hopes that there will be a green buffer zone between the existing houses and the new ones. But Oscar Boeder, leader of the CDA, thinks that is not realistic. “The residents will see those new houses. That cannot be otherwise if you also want to preserve a nature park.”
In the coalition negotiations, Boeder championed the development of the outlying area. “It has been a difficult point for us and we have also explicitly included it in our election program.” He is happy that something is going to happen and that 30 percent of the homes will become social rental homes. “With the plans we meet the housing obligation that we have as a municipality. And with the arrival of those social rental homes, there is also social support for the plan and we can also explain it to the citizen.”
The plan for the development of the area states that the new homes will not have a front or back garden. “The agreement also states that the homes are guests in the green,” explains Boeder. “It’s a different way of looking at housing.”
Resists
The Manpadslaan Area Foundation previously opposed the arrival of homes in the area and is therefore not keen on the plans of the new coalition. “We would have preferred to see it become a nature and recreational area,” says Maria Wiebosch-Steeman of the foundation. “But the fact that they only want to build on the spot where the greenhouses are now is the best option for us.” She wonders how the housing will be financed.
Oscar Boeder hopes that the sketches of the area will be made this year and that the permits will be granted next year. Duncan Faile takes another small blow. “It’s nice that it’s on paper, but first see, then believe.”
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