NOS News•today, 08:17
More than four in five municipalities indicate that their housing projects are confronted with local residents who object. This sometimes means that part of the construction project is at a standstill, but in some cases projects for the construction of thousands of homes are also at a standstill. It causes frustration among civil servants. “People often say ‘we were not heard’, but read: we did not get our way,” says an official in response to the investigation.
Delay of one to two years
Objecting residents regularly use ‘damage to the view’ as an argument to municipalities. Anticipated traffic nuisance, fear of privacy and fear of a shortage of parking spaces are also common grounds for objection.
In most municipalities, the objection procedures result in a delay of one to two years. Many municipalities try, with varying degrees of success, to avoid objection procedures by entering into discussions with local residents. However, the objection is often fought all the way to the Council of State.
‘Objecting national sport number one’
The fact that there are so many objection procedures does not surprise Minister De Jonge of Housing. “Objecting new construction is becoming popular sport number one,” he says in response to the research to the Nederlands Dagblad and Domestic Board.
According to De Jonge, the voice of home seekers is not heard enough, while that of the “angry neighbor” sounds loud and clear. “The right to a view becomes more important than the right to live. In these times we can no longer afford that.”
De Jonge wants to limit the options for going to court. He says that local residents sometimes strategically litigate to delay a project in the hope that postponement will lead to cancellation. “That is why we want to get rid of the option to appeal. There will still be plenty of options to get justice,” said De Jonge.
Tags: Construction homes delayed due objections local residents
