Finster op Romte (structural vision) and Finster op wenjen (housing vision)

News item: Northeast Friesland region starts experiment to balance the housing market

The province and the municipalities of Dantumadiel, Noardeast-Fryslân, Achtkarspelen, and Tytsjerksteradiel have made agreements regarding housing construction in the Noordoost-Fryslân region for the next 10 years. 

Councilor Fokkinga: "The municipalities are given more space and own responsibility within the frameworks of the province. We want a housing market in the region that remains in balance, but in such a way that municipalities can also realize plans." Alderman Gelbrig Hoekstra is very pleased with the result: "I am especially very happy that there is again perspective for housing construction in the villages in our municipality and that we can now finally build the 150 homes as compensation for the contribution to the Central Axis." In the form of an experiment, the region may work on the housing market itself until 2025.

Future-proof residential region

The region faces a significant challenge in the housing market in the coming years. The size and composition of the population is changing, and with it the demand for housing. The municipalities see this challenge coming their way. Alderman Gerben Wiersma of Dantumadiel is the administrative leader of the housing task on behalf of the municipalities: “We have asked the province for room to experiment in order to respond quickly and flexibly to supply and demand at a local level. This way we can deliver custom solutions for a high-quality housing supply in our region.” The Provincial Council is now giving the municipalities more responsibilities in the housing market. “Within the experiment, the region can take up this challenge,” says Fokkinga. “We will remain in close consultation in the coming period to see what the results are and how they relate to the forecasts.” In this way, the authorities are jointly committed to a future-proof residential region.

Experiment focused on balance in the housing market

The experiment aims to find a good balance between the current demand and the housing needs for the future. Within the experiment, the municipalities can create new housing plans that closely match the current and future housing needs. The municipalities themselves will have control over the number of homes for projects within the town centers. Projects outside the town centers will only be developed if it is no longer possible to build within the town centers and there is demonstrable need for new construction. Custom solutions will be provided for this by the municipalities and the province. The province provides a framework stating that each municipality must create its own (flexible) housing program. The revised regional housing market analysis for 2020 is in preparation and will provide direction for the program across municipalities. The progress of the experiment will be discussed every six months based on this analysis.

Homes De Centrale As

The province and the municipalities of Dantumadiel and Tytsjerksteradiel have also reached an agreement on the 'extra' homes that were promised as compensation for the construction of the Centrale As road. Previously, the municipality of Dantumadiel had already partially used this for the construction of 35 homes in the 'De Bosk' development area in Feanwalden. Both municipalities will have the opportunity to realize the remaining homes before 2030. This concerns 115 homes for Dantumadiel and 150 homes for Tytsjerksteradiel.