The House of Representatives already supported it and Minister Elanor Boekholt-O’Sullivan (D66) now also believes that the Emmen Region deserves extra support for the development of the area. She has designated Emmen as a so-called initiation region.
In the Spatial Planning Policy, Emmen had the lowest status, which is now being raised one level. In this memorandum, the government determines how much money municipalities receive for, among other things, housing construction and infrastructure.
With the status of initiating region, Emmen and the surrounding area can receive extra money for all kinds of developments in the field of space. A majority in the House of Representatives already indicated in April that there is enough development potential in the municipality of Emmen. This includes the arrival of the Lower Saxony Line and the plans for research and education on the Greenwise Campus.
In April, then Emmer councilor Guido Rink (PvdA) emphasized the importance of the status of initiating region: “It shows that The Hague sees our potential and gives us the space to continue building housing, accessibility and economic opportunities for our residents together. This is recognition of what the Emmen Region has to offer and is a solid step towards our future.”
Drenthe deputy Yvonne Turenhout (PvdA) is very happy with the minister’s decision: “She sees the same opportunities that we have been seeing for years. The status of an initiating region gives the impetus we need to realize our ambitions together with the government.”
The Emmen Region consists of the municipalities of Hoogeveen, Coevorden, Borger-Odoorn and Emmen.