Explore your project idea

If you want to make changes to your home, garden or business you can apply for a permit in the Omgevingsloket. You can also do the Permit Check to check whether you need a permit or only a notification. Through the Environment Counter you can make this notification or permit application right away. If you have any questions about the Environment Desk, please contact our Space Front Office. Please call 14 0511. 

It may also be that you have an idea for a project, but are not yet ready to apply for a permit. You want to explore your idea first. Or you have a plan but first want to discuss the possibilities before developing it further. And would you first like to ask the municipality what the possibilities are? Then submit your project idea using the online form at the top of this page.   

We would like to talk to you as early in the process as possible. That way it is quickly clear to you what is or is not possible and you can adjust your project idea accordingly. This way you can save costs and time. We would like to receive the following with your concept request: 

• Completed form about your project idea (required) 
• Floor plan or sketch of existing situation (required) 
• Floor plan or site plan future situation (required)  
• Photos of existing situation (optional) 
• Justification or rationale attached (optional) 
• Report of consultation/participation (optional) 
• Other attachment(s) (optional)  

This way we can think with you to achieve your goal and provide you with appropriate advice.

We have several frameworks, such as the environmental vision, policy visions and the environmental plan. We expect you as an initiator to research these yourself. On the policy frameworks page we have listed the policies for you. In addition, the environment plan is on the Omgevingsloket.

You may have a project idea that does not fit within one of the policy frameworks. But the project idea does contribute to other policy goals. After careful consideration, this may be reason for us to deviate from that one policy framework. It may also be that there are already plans to change the policy and that your project idea fits in well with this. It is always important to clearly state what you want to achieve with your project idea, how it contributes to the municipality's policy goals and why it is good to deviate from certain frameworks. 

First, we ask you to provide us with a clear project idea (see: "How extensively should I submit my project idea?"). You are also responsible for involving local residents and your surroundings. This is called participation. To help you with this, we have created a participation policy and handbook [link to page]. Further on in the process, the case manager will clearly tell you what is still needed. For example, what research you need to do to make your project idea possible with a permit or amendment to the environmental plan. When it is clear how you can make your project idea possible, you will submit an application with the final plan through the Omgevingsloket. 

All project ideas will be considered in order of receipt. Professionals often have complex projects. Upon entry, we consider whether the project idea is complex or simple. The complex project ideas follow a more extensive route than the more simple ones. The case manager complex picks up these complex project ideas. 

If you have a detailed plan, you can submit a concept request (the new term for request in principle and pre-consultation) via the Omgevingsloket. Do you have a plan and want to discuss the possibilities before elaborating? Then you can submit your project idea via the online form on our website. 

The college and the council deal with amending and adopting new planning and policy frameworks. Planning frameworks are, for example, the environmental vision and the environmental plan. Policy frameworks are, for example, the economic policy plan or the sustainability agenda. Initiatives that fall within these frameworks do not require a council decision. This saves a lot of time. 

Yes, you can. If you would like to explain your project idea in an interview, you can indicate this when you submit your project idea.  

Only complex project ideas are discussed at the intake table. These are project ideas that do not fit within planning frameworks and/or policies. These project ideas can also be politically sensitive. Simple project ideas do not need to be discussed at length and can be handled more quickly. At the intake table, we discuss which points of interest are important when handling the project idea and which complex case manager will handle the project idea. After this, the case manager complex will contact you. Then the case manager will seek advice from the various consultants. 

Then the case manager complex will contact you about follow-up, including arranging an environment table. 

The municipality considers whether your project idea fits within the planning or policy frameworks. If it does not fit immediately, but after some adjustments it does. Then it is a 'yes, provided'. Together we look at how we can make your project idea possible. It may be that the 'if' is so big that you can't or don't want to realize the project idea. If it is immediately clear that it does not fit, it is immediately a 'no'.  

If it becomes a "no," the case manager will first contact you by phone to explain. It will then become clear why your project idea does not fit within the framework. The case manager will also tell you that we see no possibilities to make your project idea possible at the desired location. Do you subsequently get an idea for a completely different project idea that does fit within the framework or can be made to fit? Then you can also submit this to us using the form.  

In consultation with you, the case manager complex organizes an environment table for your complex project idea. The environment table will include the complex case manager, you as initiator, various advisors from the municipality and any chain partners such as the province and FUMO. During the environment table it becomes clear how the project idea can be adjusted so that it is feasible. At the table we carefully weigh the interests. It is possible that one policy principle will carry less weight than another. The results of the round table are recorded in a report. 

The environment table takes place weekly on Thursday mornings.  

Do you have questions about submitting your project idea? If so, please contact us at 14 0511. Once you have submitted a project idea, it will be linked to a case manager. This is your contact person for the entire process.  

The case manager is your contact person. He or she will help you move the project idea smoothly through the procedure. The case manager will ensure careful consideration of interests and policy principles together with the advisors. If necessary, the case manager will coordinate your project idea with the portfolio holder. The case manager directs and monitors the pace over the municipal steps. 

Some project ideas take a long time from idea to bringing the initiative into procedure. If the policy changes before you have put your initiative into procedure, it may affect your initiative. In that case, it is a good idea to work with your case manager to see what adjustments will allow the initiative to proceed. 

You are responsible for this yourself. Do you want to organize a meeting? If so, you can invite us to attend and possibly explain policy/vision at the meeting. You can discuss this with your case manager. 

As initiator, you are responsible for involving local residents and the environment. Once the college and/or council will decide on your final application, they will also look at your participation process, what the results are and what you have done with them. 

You can submit your final application through the Omgevingsloket. This will also remain the case under the new Environment Act (January 1, 2024). It makes no difference whether your initiative requires a permit or an amendment to the environmental plan. 

What you need to provide depends on how complex your application is. In the preliminary stage, when discussing your project idea or concept request, we have indicated what is relevant to your application. For example, an archaeological survey. The Omgevingsloket further states what you need to do to submit it completely.  

The municipality does not create or modify an environmental plan itself. For this you can hire an agency later in the process (after the consultations with the environment table(s)). The agency can prepare an environmental plan amendment according to our manual. In this way, it will be as consistent as possible with the municipality's existing environmental plan. You then submit an application with the environmental plan amendment. The council makes a decision on the requested amendment. 

Under the Environment Act, the deadline for permit issuance has been shortened to 8 weeks. At this point, we don't know how it will go. We will work toward a smooth permit process in the coming period. For this we depend on the available capacity and a smooth Digital System for the Environment Act (DSO). Within our capabilities, we will make every effort to decide on permit applications within 8 weeks. More will be known about developments in the fall of 2024.