The municipality of Midden-Drenthe receives a subsidy of 3.8 million euros from The Hague. The money is intended for the construction of the necessary infrastructure such as cycle paths and roads around the hamlets of Alting and Smalbroek, where the municipality sees potential for housing construction.
The government is tightening its budget because the housing plans can be implemented in a relatively short period of time. To receive the subsidy, the first homes must be built within five years and the last homes within eight years at the latest. The plan must also involve more than 200 homes.
In Alting, space is provided for a maximum of 350 homes, in Smalbroek for a maximum of 500. This concerns social housing, apartments, terraced houses, semi-detached houses, lifelong homes and free plots.
The new construction will be done in phases. This gives the municipality the opportunity to start building as quickly as possible and to make adjustments if more housing is built elsewhere, for example through infill development.
However, the plan is not yet complete. Various feasibility studies are still underway into soil, water management, traffic, landscape and finances, among other things. It has been agreed with the municipal council that the results of the studies will first be discussed before the plans are further developed by the council.
“Although the subsidy covers a significant part of the costs, the municipality will also have to invest in the infrastructure and preparation of construction sites,” the municipality writes in its press release.
Residents of the neighborhoods who view the plans critically have been informed. Councilor Rieja Raven (PvdA/GroenLinks) says she is aware of the different opinions that exist about the areas.
Still, Raven is positive about the subsidy. “This subsidy is an important step to further prepare housing in Beilen. It gives us the opportunity to realize important infrastructure in the long term and contributes to the development of future-proof homes in our municipality.”