High score in regional overview of social housing in new construction

Once a year, the Holland Rijnland partnership publishes an overview of the number of social housing units and affordable housing units included in all housing development plans across the thirteen municipalities. In doing so, Holland Rijnland highlights the progress the municipalities are making toward reducing any shortage of social housing and other affordable housing. The figures are taken from the South Holland Province’s Housing Plan Registry.

From Segaar-Arsenaal to Prinses Marijkelaan

According to the overview dated November 19, the municipality of Voorschoten ranks first in terms of social housing units in the new construction program for the years 2025 through 2032. This is primarily because the municipality strives to achieve a 30 percent social housing quota as much as possible even in older plans, as it is also attempting to do with the Segaar-Arsenaal project. Second, the municipality is making a strong commitment to social housing in new plans, such as those for Oude Stationslaantje, Churchillplein, Bijdorp, and the homes near the new Fortgens School on Prinses Marijkelaan.

Pick up the pace

“To be fair, we have to take this with a grain of salt,” says Councilman Hans van der Elst. “Because the Provincial Executive still has to formally approve the plans. But there’s no doubt about it: we’re one of the municipalities that has included the most social housing units in its programs. As for the new housing construction plans launched during this municipal council term, the construction plans on municipal-owned land even call for a 100 percent share of social housing units. So we’re really going to pick up the pace now.”

Where do the figures come from?

The information in the South Holland Residential Planning Registry is not public. However, the council information letters through which the municipal executive informs the city council are public. For example, the (slightly less recent) council information letter dated October 22, , shows that the municipality of Voorschoten expects its ongoing projects to result in 40 percent social housing. This puts Voorschoten ahead of other municipalities in Holland Rijnland.