Area Development
Different spatial planning issues are at play in both rural and urban areas. Rising water levels, cluttering in rural landscapes, ailing boroughs and persistent housing shortages are some of the issues we are facing for the coming decades. And then there is also the fact that we are seeing that the driving force behind spatial planning has ground to a halt in many places. Which all leads to dwindling investment in the future of the Netherlands. Oranjewoud’s experienced process managers and consultants in area development are able to force breakthroughs in administrative deadlocks. They possess the drive to manage projects right from the first initiative and see it through to the actual realisation phase.
Area development projects are of course very complex ones: they often involve multifaceted issues, conflicting interests and long turnaround times. And residents and interest groups are ever quicker to throw up resistance. But this should not lead to ambitions being watered down! Area development is a relatively new field, and research on and documentation of experiences in this field have seen a significant boost in recent years. The central focus in this area of expertise is on public-private partnerships:which we sometimes refer to as ‘PPPS’. Urgent needs for areas come first, ahead of institutional boundaries or long-term planning policy. Provincial and municipal authorities, as well as project developers, in the Netherlands are increasingly recognising this priority.
Front runners in area development
Oranjewoud is one of the front runners in area development in the Netherlands, as demonstrated by high-profile projects such as Waterdunen, Renswoude and Wormer-Jisperveld. Another aspect of our prime position in this area is that we put considerable effort into the development of new knowledge and methods: such as business cases, area concessions and new forms of citizen participation. We often strike up partnerships with Nirov, Habiforum and Groenland. Our experience and insights have led to our ‘House of Area Development’: our concept consisting of five focus points that make the difference between success and failure in area development projects.
Motivation and experience
Our 25 process managers and consultants for area development have different professional backgrounds and affinities. What they have in common is the motivation and experience that enable them to set the pace in area development projects, and achieve socially responsible results. And whenever necessary, they can easily bring in 1500 specialists with relevant know-how from within Oranjewoud.
More information
Need all-round support in an area development process? Or are you looking for area development training and coaching for your project managers and staff?
Please contact Henri Deelstra, Advisory Group Manager Area Development, telephone +31 (0)513 63 42 86, email henri.deelstra@oranjewoud.nl.