One million new homes are needed by 2030 in Holland Metropole and the region's four biggest cities – The Hague, Amsterdam, Utrecht and Rotterdam – have formed a partnership to ensure that increasing demand for housing is met.
‘It is a challenge for us and a big investment opportunity for you,’ said Robert Simons, deputy mayor, City of Rotterdam. ‘What we offer is the 7th wealthiest region in the world and the best-connected area in Europe, with good links by rail, air, road and port.’
Simon was speaking at a breifing on the Holland Metropole region and the Netherlands at Expo Real on Thursday morning.
The authorities are speeding up processes and permits to encourage building. ‘The cities used to compete, but now we cooperate to attract investors and facilitate development, because it is key to getting things done,’ said Bob van der Zande, director residential markets, City of Amsterdam.
The good news is that the private sector is already on board, said Desiree Uitzetter, director area development, BPD. ‘The ten biggest private parties have already decided to cooperate on this project, using land on city boundaries for residential development,’ she said. ‘There is a shared sense of urgency, because housing matters.’
Even investors who have traditionally been focused on the office sector are now targeting residential, said Jan Petersen, managing director, Apleona GVA fund and asset management: ‘Office are no longer the priority, so we often convert office buildings into residential. Private investors are very interested in residential opportunities in the Netherlands.’
Click here for a Holland Metropole brochure prepared for Expo Real
