Interim results

What has happened in the meantime?

We have now spoken in person with various local residents and also with a number of farmers about their plans for the future. There are still a few more informal discussions to be held. After that, we will review all the insights and decide on the next steps together. Below is an overview of the discussions so far.

General

Generally speaking, we have noticed in our discussions that the residents we have spoken to feel a strong attachment to the area and really enjoy living there. Reactions to the planned changes have been mixed, but there is often an understanding that the area will change. The discussions mainly centre on the scale of the changes and what this means for the character of the area.

Farmers

The farmers (+/- 20 farms) who have come forward are mainly based east of the A50 and south of the A1 (Hooilanden-Klarenbeek). These are mainly farms run by (young) entrepreneurs who are developing their businesses or planning for succession, and/or who hold land holdings that are essential to the continuity of their businesses. Often, these are farming businesses that have been established in the area for generations and derive their family income from it. They see themselves as stewards of the agricultural landscape. Many farmers are also concerned about the changing “rural culture” resulting from large-scale housing development. Agricultural businesses face a major challenge in terms of extensification; the use of land for housing, industry, the energy transition and additional nature conservation is at odds with these challenges. Large-scale solar farms on agricultural land have an impact on biodiversity and are regarded as a no-go, provided that a farmer chooses to do so of their own accord. The plans are causing a great deal of uncertainty and emotional distress amongst farmers in the area.

Housing construction

There is often understanding when it comes to housing development, as many residents recognise that more homes are needed. However, when it comes to plans for 2,000 to 3,000 new homes, some residents feel this is too many. They are concerned about the impact on the area, such as the strain on existing facilities, increased traffic and the preservation of the current character of the village or surrounding area.

Solar farms

It had already become clear during the public information evenings that there is considerable opposition to the construction of solar farms, particularly to the plan to set aside 150 hectares for this purpose. This concern was also frequently raised in discussions with local residents. They are worried about the impact on the landscape, the effect on the open character of the area and the potential consequences for nature and agriculture.

Should we incorporate existing homes into the plans or buy them up? A frequently asked question is whether we will incorporate existing homes into the plans or buy them up. At present, we cannot give a clear answer to this for every home. In principle, we aim to retain as many homes as possible and incorporate them into the new plan. However, in certain locations – such as where new infrastructure is being built – this is unfortunately not always possible.

The question of whether the council will apply the Municipal Pre-emptive Right Act (WVG) comes up regularly. This means that the council is granted the right to be the first to purchase land from private owners when that land is put up for sale. We will not apply the WVG across the entire area, but will do so selectively for specific purposes, such as the construction of infrastructure. Our aim is to gain greater control over land in strategic locations so that we can implement our plans effectively.

Investing in residential and commercial property

Several residents have asked whether it still makes sense to invest in homes or commercial premises, given the uncertainty surrounding their future living and working conditions. These concerns are understandable and call for greater clarity. Unfortunately, it is difficult at present to provide a clear and unambiguous answer to this question. We understand that this situation raises questions, and we are doing our best to provide further information as developments unfold.

What we can say at this stage is that, apart from Host-city, there are no plans for large-scale development in the area over the next six to seven years. Where possible, we will incorporate housing. Smaller investments with a lifespan of around ten years therefore seem justified.

Planning

One of the most important questions frequently asked is what the timetable is for this development. When will construction begin and when will the first homes be completed? The first homes will be built as part of the Host-city project, with completion scheduled for early 2029. The other areas will then be developed. We expect to be able to present the conceptual design for Host-city by the end of this year or early next year. We hope to have the development framework concept, which sets out the future plans for the entire area, finalised in the course of 2025.

Participation: how do we keep up to date?

The one-to-one discussions with residents are now almost complete, and we are taking stock. We will then discuss this feedback with the council to see how we can incorporate it into our future plans. We will share the results of these discussions transparently on the project page apeldoorn.nl/zuidrand. We also send a message to all residents on our mailing list to let them know that the information is available online. This way, we keep everyone up to date with progress and developments.

We will then organise design sessions, to which we will invite residents, business owners and relevant organisations. We will incorporate the outcomes of these sessions into a proposal for the development of the area. Once we have finalised this, we will invite residents once again to review the plans and give their views.