By 2030, 900,000 homes must be added in our country and the provinces have a central role in this. This is therefore an important theme in the Provincial Council elections. But the regional governments are also responsible for nitrogen reduction, which is a major obstacle to housing construction.
In order to reduce the large housing shortage, many new houses must be built quickly. Housing Minister Hugo de Jonge has made agreements with the provinces about how many homes should be built in each province. The regional authorities, together with municipalities, determine the exact location where the houses will be built.
One of the main obstacles in this respect is nitrogen reduction. Only when the amount of nitrogen has been reduced will there be more space for new homes. And that nitrogen problem is also on the plate of the provinces.
It makes for a complicated puzzle in many regions. “The nitrogen issue is indeed difficult,” says Meije Gildemacher of the InterProvincial Consultation (IPO), which represents the interests of the provinces. “But you have to build houses. And if there is a headwind, you have to pedal a little harder.”
Permit stop in Brabant
The province of North Brabant recently noticed this headwind. An analysis showed that the nature of Brabant was in such a bad state that all permits were immediately stopped. The situation for nature must first improve before permits can be issued again.
An initial inventory shows that two projects will not receive a permit for the time being. Another project that has already started has come to a standstill. The Brabant deputy Erik Ronnes, who has housing in his portfolio, therefore said to it Brabants Dagblad that it will be a big job to achieve the residential goals. In Brabant this concerns 130,000 new homes. Issues such as a shortage of personnel, expensive materials, high energy prices and an overcrowded power grid also play a role in this.
Still, the province remains hopeful. “We do indeed think it is still feasible,” says a spokesman. “Many housing projects are currently under construction. This year, the Brabant stock is expected to grow by between 10,500 and 11,000 homes. The necessary building permits have also recently been granted for projects that can go ahead.”
Builders and brokers are critical
However, there are doubts whether the provinces will indeed achieve their goals. For example, Bouwend Nederland came up with criticism this week. According to the association for construction companies, many housing plans are “butter soft”. In other words, there is still too much uncertainty.
Real estate agents’ association NVM is even more adamant. “Given the sharp drop in permits issued, buyers dropping out due to the higher mortgage interest and the fact that market parties in many provinces have not actively joined the housing plans, we do not expect the provinces to achieve the goals.”
The association says that the plans look good on paper, but in many cases do not correspond to reality. Exceptions are Overijssel and Zeeland, where commercial companies are well involved in the plans, according to the brokers.
Parties are very divided about nitrogen
Whether things will get better after the elections remains to be seen. It is true that the parties generally agree that more houses should be built, but opinions differ widely on the nitrogen issue.
For example, PvdA, GroenLinks and coalition party D66 want the livestock to shrink, so that the amount of nitrogen decreases. But parties such as JA21 and BBB, which are on significant gains in the polls, see little in this. As far as they are concerned, the reduction of the herd is not necessary at all.
A number of regional departments of coalition parties VVD and CDA also do not accept the nitrogen policy agreed upon by their colleagues in national politics. The question is therefore whether the new provincial governments will simply go along with the assignment that The Hague has given them.
Nevertheless, Gildemacher is still positive on behalf of the provinces. “If there is a different board, the building task is still there. The houses still have to be built.”