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

News release: Northeast Frisian region starts experiment for balance in housing market

The province and the municipalities of Dantumadiel, Noardeast-Fryslân, Achtkarspelen and Tytsjerksteradiel have made agreements with each other on housing construction in the Northeast-Fryslân region for the next 10 years. 

Commissioner Fokkinga: "The municipalities are given more space and their 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 pleased that there is again perspective for housing construction in the villages in our municipality and that we can finally start building the 150 homes as compensation for the contribution to the Central Axis." In the form of an experiment, the region is allowed to 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 challenge 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 the local level. In this way we can provide customization for a quality housing supply in our region." Provincial Councils are now giving municipalities more responsibilities in the housing market. "Within the experiment, the region can take up this gauntlet," Fokkinga said. "We will remain in close consultation in the coming period to see what the results are and how they relate to the forecasts." The authorities are thus jointly committed to a future-proof residential region.

Experiment aimed at balancing housing market

The experiment is aimed at finding a good balance between today's demand and future housing needs. Within the experiment, municipalities can make new housing plans that are well suited to current and future housing needs. For projects within the cores, the municipalities will have control over the number of housing units. Projects outside the cores will only be developed if it is no longer possible to build within the cores and there is a demonstrable need for new construction. To this end, the municipalities and the province provide customization. The province provides the framework for each municipality to draw up its own (flexible) housing program. The reassessed regional housing market analysis 2020 is in preparation and provides municipality-wide direction for the program. Every six months, the progress of the experiment is discussed with each other based on that analysis.

Housing The Central Axis

The province and the municipalities of Dantumadiel and Tytsjerksteradiel have also reached agreement on the 'extra' homes promised as compensation for the construction of the Central Axis. Previously, the municipality of Dantumadiel had already made partial use of this by building 35 homes in the 'De Bosk' planning area in Feanwalden. Both municipalities will have the opportunity to realize the remaining homes before 2030. For Dantumadiel this involves 115 homes and for Tytsjerksteradiel 150 homes.