De Welkoop is definitely not allowed to build a new store at the old location in Hoogezand. The Council of State decided this on Wednesday.
This puts an end to a long-running conflict. That starts on Saturday, June 10, 2017 when, just after closing time, a major fire breaks out in the store. At 5:45 p.m., local residents called the fire brigade, a little later the flames came out of the roof. Nothing remains of the building.
Welkoop will open again on June 28. A new location has been found, right next to the burned down building.
Conflict municipality
And then things go wrong. The municipality has plans for the quay of the Winschoterdiep where the Welkoop is located. There should be luxury homes and coffee shops. ‘A boulevard along the Winschoterdiep’ , headlines RTV Noord. There is a place for Welkoop on another industrial estate south of Hoogezand.
Welkoop does not agree. “We are well located here along the A7,” says manager Klaas-Jan Niestijl. Moreover, there is already a Welkoop branch in Veendam and the new location is too close to there.
Welkoop is making plans for new construction at the old location. The municipality does not agree with this. The signed store is not an exact copy of the old one, according to the official version.
Lawsuits
Welkoop will go to court in 2021. He agrees with the store chain, but the municipality does not give up and goes to the Council of State.
The case will be heard there in June 2023. “Should we also return the asbestos to the building, or the two fireworks bunkers that we no longer need,” asks Welkoop’s lawyer. Ultimately, the retail chain loses this case. This time because the new building is 83 square meters too large on the drawings.
Resigned
In the meantime, Welkoop is still in the replacement building. The store chain is making plans for the renovation. The floor must be leveled and the walls must be insulated. “It is impossible to get warm here in the winter,” says manager Klaas-Jan Niestijl.
He’s done with it now. “I have been very grumpy about this, but it has been going on for seven years now. You won’t be able to keep that up for very long.”