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Weighting model spatial initiatives city, village and rural area

The weighting model is a tool used by the council to assess spatial initiatives in the city, the villages and the surrounding countryside. Your initiative will be assessed on the basis of six themes. Your initiative must meet ‘the Apeldoorn standard’ (the basic quality level) in four of the six themes. The Apeldoorn standard is expressed in points.

An initiative is considered promising if it scores at least 120 points using the weighting model and meets the Apeldoorn standard in at least four areas. The council will assess whether your initiative is promising based on the points scored and the supporting evidence you provide. If the council deems your initiative to be viable, you will receive a letter of approval in principle from the council and you can proceed with the next steps in the application process.

The weighting model offers you, as the initiator, the opportunity to deviate from existing rules and standards with your initiative, provided that your initiative contributes sufficiently to the goals for Apeldoorn in 2040. This means your plan may still go ahead even if it does not meet all the requirements. Through the weighting model, we therefore offer you a bespoke approach to spatial initiatives, within the city, the villages and the surrounding countryside.

The ‘Weighted Assessment Model for Spatial Initiatives in Towns, Villages and Rural Areas’ applies to the following initiatives:

  • All initiatives relating to residential and/or commercial uses for which an amendment to the local development plan is required;
  • Initiatives relating to residential and/or commercial uses for which an environmental permit for an activity not covered by the environmental plan (BOPA) is required, unless it concerns a ‘krümel’ or ‘brokstuk’ (with the exception of the ‘brokstukken’ listed below) as defined in Appendix 2: Activities relating to the environmental plan outside the scope of the plan under the fees regulation. In that case, the weighting model does not apply and the weighting form does not need to be completed and attached.

Exception: the weighting model does apply to the following debris:

  1. an extension, not intended for residential use, to a building with a gross floor area of less than 1,000 m²
  2. changing the use of a non-residential property to a residential property, provided that the number of new dwellings is fewer than ten;
  3. changing the use to purposes other than residential, provided that the cumulative gross floor area of the new uses is less than 1,500 m².
  • The terms ‘residential’ and/or ‘work’ functions are defined as follows:
    • Housing: all types, independent and/or non-independent;
    • Work: this term encompasses all forms of activity, including both agricultural and non-agricultural business functions, as well as recreational, social, sporting, hospitality, cultural and leisure functions – including residential functions associated with the relevant business function.

The council will assess your initiative on the basis of six themes linked to the City of Apeldoorn’s ambitions up to 2040. For four of these themes, you must meet at least ‘the Apeldoorn standard’ (the basic quality standard).

To assess your initiative, please complete the assessment form for the area where the development is to take place. This will give you an insight into whether your initiative meets ‘the Apeldoorn standard’ (the basic quality standard) for each theme. This will also give you an initial impression of whether your initiative has potential and which aspects you might need to adjust to improve its chances in the council’s assessment. Please submit this assessment form, together with your supporting documentation, with your application for a draft request via the National Environmental Permit Portal (DSO). There is a fee for submitting a draft application. Find out more about submitting a draft request.

The council will review your application and assess the extent to which your initiative meets Apeldoorn’s basic quality standards and the extent to which it contributes to Apeldoorn’s ambitions for 2040. If the council deems your initiative to be promising, you will receive a letter of intent from the council and you can proceed with the next steps in the application process.

You can obtain a principle agreement from the local authority for the implementation of your initiative if:

  • your initiative has scored at least 120 points in the weighting model, and;
  • your initiative meets at least the ‘Apeldoorn standard’ for the compulsory theme of ‘spatial integration’ and three other themes of your choice, and;
  • that you provide a sound justification and explanation for your choices in the assessment form for each theme.

Local authority: assess your initiative against six themes

The council will assess your initiative on the basis of six themes linked to the City of Apeldoorn’s ambitions up to 2040. The council will assess your initiative against the following themes:

Programme

Does your initiative fit within the housing or employment programme applicable to the area? For example: does it involve high-quality housing, does the business fit in with the local area, and does it contribute to the local or regional economy? Does it offer something that is not currently available?

Sustainability

For new-build projects, we require that the building uses as much energy as it generates. We also aim to achieve this for businesses, but set the standard based on the BENG performance for buildings.

Nature & Climate

Our local authority is committed to nature conservation and restoration, and is taking proactive measures to prepare for climate change. In the town and villages, we apply the standards for nature-inclusive and climate-adaptive construction, as well as the statutory standards, as water retention on private land must be properly managed. In addition, there is an extra bonus for more greenery, biodiversity, green façades and green roofs. In the rural areas, our local by-law, the ‘Groene Balans’, applies. A development that fits within the ‘Groene Balans’ therefore scores highly on the ‘Apeldoorns Peil’ scale.

Spatial integration

Effective integration into the surrounding area and good accessibility are essential requirements for any development, whilst enhancing the quality of the experience. In doing so, careful consideration is given to the existing context, including the connection with the city, the spatial structure of the area and the scale and character of the urban environment.

Social inclusion

In Apeldoorn, we are working to create an inclusive municipality by providing a diverse range of housing options and building affordable homes. We are therefore requesting a contribution towards the construction of affordable homes and accommodation for vulnerable groups. We also take into account the needs of the area, neighbourhood or village, in line with the Public Housing Framework and the profiles set out in the Environmental Vision. We ask businesses to adopt socially responsible practices and to have a local connection, for example by recruiting staff from Apeldoorn itself.

Society and health

In Apeldoorn, we promote health by creating outdoor spaces that are safe for all users and encourage people to meet and be active.

Your initiative must meet at least ‘the Apeldoorn standard’ in four areas

Your initiative must meet ‘the Apeldoorn standard’ (the basic quality level) in four of the six themes. The theme of ‘spatial integration’ is mandatory in this regard, in connection with our Aesthetics Policy (PDF, 1.7 MB) You may choose the three other themes on which your initiative will be assessed under ‘het Apeldoorns Peil’. In total, your initiative must achieve a score of at least 120 points, of which at least 80 points must be at the basic quality level, spread across four themes.

In practice, this means that in the scoring form, you must demonstrate for at least four themes (one of which is ‘spatial integration’) that you can meet the minimum requirement of 20 points. You should therefore ensure that your answers are well substantiated.

It is therefore possible to deviate from two of the six themes, and the ‘Apeldoorn benchmark’ does not have to be met. In such cases, however, the remaining minimum of 40 points must be offset by bonus points from the six themes. You are free to choose these at your discretion. To this end, criteria have been added to the weighting form, each representing 10 points, from which you may make your own selection. Naturally, you may also achieve a score higher than 120 points. For each theme, you must provide a justification for your choices.

As regards the weighting model, Apeldoorn has been divided into four areas, each with its own weighting model:

Each area has its own unique characteristics and different objectives. That is why these four areas each have their own weighting model. Depending on where the development is taking place, the relevant weighting model applies. Are you unsure which weighting model to use? Please feel free to contact with us.