Over EUR 1 billion needed for neglected areas 02/11/2006 00:00

To prevent the deterioration of any more districts due to problem areas, a future annual investment of EUR 1 up to 1.4 billion is necessary for urban renewal and new building construction.

1 November 2006

THE HAGUE – In order to prevent the deterioration of any more districts due to problem areas, a future annual investment of EUR 1 up to 1.4 billion is necessary for urban renewal and new building construction.

According to a research by VROM this government contribution over a period of ten years will look for some 160 billion in investments by other parties in the old city districts. This was written by VROM-Minister Pieter Winsemius in a letter to the Second Chamber concerning the future of urban renewal.

According to Minister Winsemius urban renewal will also remain urgent after 2010 and the district renewal treatment can make a real difference at reducing physical and social problems. Approximately 140 districts in the Netherlands threaten to slide into neglect of which 40 districts are effectively found in the danger zone.

In practice it has been shown already that restructuring (the treatment and improvement of houses in the needy districts) is frequently the impetus needed to get social investments in districts requiring attention off the ground.

There must also be more differentiation in the buildings in order to house those with middle and higher incomes in the city.

In the future, the minister also sees a permanent involvement from the state to promote the quality of life in cities and to reduce the imminent bipartition in the urban areas.

The minister believes that stopping the contribution from the state government will lead to a considerable increase in the number of problem districts.

If the current policy gets no extra boost the reversal in the districts will be inevitable.

A firm reduction of the number of needy districts is only feasible if it is broached ambitiously with more demolition and new construction of houses and a broad social treatment with the emphasis on living, working, learning and security.

The municipalities will play a controlling role and work in cooperation wtih the housing corporations.

Winsemius also expects extra investments from public and private parties in the cities' housing markets. According to the research a state government contribution of EUR 1 up to 1.4 billion per year will then lead to investments by public and private parties of EUR 160 up to 165 billion Euro over the period from 2010 up to 2019.

[Copyright Expatica News 2006]  

Subject: Dutch news