Municipality critical of provincial plan putting 10,000 homes at risk

The Amsterdam city council has expressed strong opposition to a new provincial spatial plan that threatens the development of 10,000 homes in the Westelijk Havengebied. The province of North Holland proposes designating the industrial area as a protected site of provincial importance to support heavy industry and the energy transition. This classification would restrict residential construction, directly conflicting with the city's ambitious Haven-Stad project, which aims to create 70,000 homes in the area. Amsterdam officials have urged the province to respect previous agreements, arguing that this policy could make the city's housing targets impossible to achieve without provincial cooperation.

The conflict highlights a growing tension between local housing needs and provincial industrial policy. Amsterdam has officially submitted feedback requesting that the transformation area be explicitly protected within the final vision plan to ensure development can proceed. While the province claims housing remains possible, the city argues that a clear partnership is essential to meet national housing commitments. The Provinciale Staten are expected to vote on the final version of the vision plan in late December.