Action needed now to future-proof former growth centers
Livability and social cohesion in former growth centers are deteriorating at an accelerated rate. Immediate action is needed to make these New Towns future-proof, and municipalities cannot do this alone. This is evident from the research report 'Zorgen voor New Towns; van groeikern tot aandachtgebied', which was presented to Minister Mona Keijzer (Volkshuisvesting en Ruimtelijke Ordening) in Nieuwspoort on Wednesday, November 13, 2024.
Commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations and the New Town Alliance, in which 7 former growth centers are united, research was conducted in recent months by the Verwey-Jonker Institute, Bureau Louter and Platform31. "In neighborhoods built in the 60s, 70s and 80s, so-called New Towns, many people live to their full satisfaction," says Minister Keijzer, "At the same time, these towns are threatening to become less attractive. The New Town Alliance calls attention to these developments."
Large-scale aging
The many neighborhoods built in the 1970s and 1980s in short order in New Towns are now aging rapidly and showing worrisome patterns, the study found. Entire neighborhoods are in need of restructuring and replacement. Above all, amenities are falling behind the needs of residents. The study shows that there is a particular shortage of socio-cultural facilities, youth facilities and facilities to promote meeting. This has a negative effect on residential attractiveness.
Declining residential attractiveness
Declining housing attractiveness is causing a changing population composition in New Towns. The choice to build a life in a New Town is often a practical one. Affordable rent and purchase prices are important reasons for moving to a New Town. At the same time, the research shows that households with greater financial means are moving to newer neighborhoods or leaving the city. This creates increasing pressure on livability.
Urgent help needed
The scale and complexity of the renovation and restructuring task requires financial resources that exceed the capacity of the municipalities. The New Town Alliance therefore calls on the national government to invest and include New Towns in national policy instruments such as the National Spatial Strategy, the Public Housing Fund and strategic investment agendas. The Alliance estimates the investment need at €3 billion, supplemented by expertise and regulatory space.
Lessons for current building plans
The New Town Alliance has already recently called on the government not to forget the social cement in its current building plans. "We are the result of one of the largest building booms the Netherlands has known, so we know a lot about public housing and spatial planning. The most important lesson: don't focus on the short term," said Michel Bezuijen, chairman of the New Town Alliance and mayor of Zoetermeer. "Investments in the social fabric and amenities are needed to ensure long-term livability."
Contributing to today's housing demand
New Towns were a solution to housing issues and can still be, with the continuing pressure on the housing market. The New Towns were and still are attractive to young families, with a favorable price-quality ratio of a house with a garden. Municipalities themselves are already working hard to make their towns more future-proof. For example, they are already making many investments in neighborhood facilities and youth work. With additional help, larger problems are prevented and former growth centers can continue to make an important contribution to today's housing demand.
About New Towns
The New Town Alliance consists of seven former growth centers, cities that grew at the behest of the national government, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s. These are the municipalities of Almere, Capelle aan den IJssel, Helmond, Nieuwegein, Nissewaard, Purmerend and Zoetermeer. Together with other municipalities, they were designated as growth centers in the Second Policy Document on Spatial Planning, in response to the housing issue of the time. About 1.3 million people now live in a New Town.
