Outgoing minister Mona Keijzer (public housing) wants to relax rules to make housing faster and cheaper. Almost everyone agrees, but her first proposals already lead to protest. Are lower ceilings and steeper stairs not at the expense of living quality?
“We want to reduce regulatory pressure, provide more clarity and see where it can be cheaper,” says Friso De Zeeuw, adviser and emeritus professor of area development at TU Delft. He is chairman of the Advisory Group Stoer, an abbreviation that stands for the deletion of conflicting and superfluous requirements and regulations. “A somewhat forced abbreviation,” De Zeeuw admits.
Tough makes around 150 proposals. They range from other requirements for ceiling heights, dealing with noise standards differently and considerably shorter professional procedures. “Some recommendations require behavioral change, some require a change in the law and some focus on municipalities,” says De Zeeuw.
In the 45 years that he has been working in the sector, De Zeeuw received how the legislation grew. Previous attempts to simplify and clarification yielded little. “Now they also thought: another advice and the cabinet is outgoing. But the minister immediately makes work of our proposals.”
The analysis of tough is clear and the minister wants to get started right away, Keijzer writes to the Lower House on 23 June. “Not one specific rule is the problem, but the stacking and fragmentation of rules leads to delay, higher costs and uncertainty. The importance of housing, and therefore of the home seeker, has remained underexposed too often.”
Moreover, tough sees significant benefits. The preparatory planning phase of an average of seven years can be halved and in some cases the costs per home can be reduced by 10,000 euros. There are many positive reactions.
“Does this really lead to lower construction costs?”
Keijzer makes work of the proposals within its competence, such as a reduction in the minimum ceiling height from 2.60 to 2.50 meters. And to save space, the minister wants steeper stairs.
These proposals criticize different angles. “We can support the majority of the measures,” responds a spokesperson for the Association of Eigen Huis (VEH), the representative of homeowners. But the VEH is critical of the proposals for stairs and ceiling heights.
Fewer steep stairs, so -called ‘lazy stairs’, are safer for older people, according to the VEH. “It is not for nothing that lazy kicks have been chosen in the past.” The construction is also set at one standard height for ceilings and doors. “Choosing two different standard heights can be at the expense of uniformity and the question is whether this will actually lead to lower construction costs.”
There is also no guarantee, according to the VEH, that releasing certain quality requirements will lead to lower housing prices. “Perhaps developers eventually calculate it again in the land price. We are also afraid that this will be a sliding scale: less and less living quality to reduce the costs even further.”
‘Higher ceilings are good for living quality’
The Union of Water Boards recognizes the great importance of home seekers, but is concerned about some proposals. According to the water boards, a number are “right to be at odds with the importance of a future -proof living environment”. The water boards want to prevent home seekers from being saddled with a house that turns out to be uninhabitable in a few years “.
The Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) thinks that some proposals would become better “by also weighing interests other than housing”.
The industry association for architects is also critical of the proposals to the NOS . The chairman does not understand why Keijzer takes over this rules – the ceilings would not be so high for nothing. “We are getting longer and longer and that really influences living quality.”
“The reactions to those first proposals illustrate the tricky of this operation,” says De Zeeuw. “Now not even 20 percent of the total number of proposals came and the world is right away. All those rules have their own ambassadors and fan clubs. We are all for the great simplification, but so as a point at the mark does not come.”
According to De Zeeuw, the proposals of tough are incorrectly made too absolutely. He sees the 150 proposals as sliders that can be adjusted. “We argue in favor of moving the interests of interest in the 150 sliders a little more direction and building.”
“Take those steep stairs. I base myself on, among other things, professor of geriatric medicine Rudi Westendorp, who says that a lazy staircase – as the name suggests – is not necessarily good for health. If it is necessary, a stairlift can still be installed.”
“Tough takes into account the health aspect of people looking for a home. In the current discussion, the stress of looking for a home so far hardly plays a role.”
Outgoing Minister Mona Keijzer (Housing) Wants To Relax rules to Make House Construction Faster and Cheaper. Virtumy Everyone Agrees With This, But Her First Proposals Are Already Leading to Protests. Won Lower Ceilings and Steeper Stairs Compromise the Quality of Living?
“We want to reduce the Regulatory Burden, Ensure More Clarity and see where it can be cheaper,” Says Friso de Zeeuw, advisor and emeritus professor of Area Development at TU Delft. He is Chairman of the Stoer Advisory Group, an Abbreviation that Stands for Scrapping Conflicting and Superfluous Requirements and Regulations. “A somewhat forced abbreviation,” De Zeeuw Admits.
Tough Makes About 150 Proposals. They Range from Different Requirements for Ceiling Heights, A Different Approach To Noise Standards and Consider Falry Shorter Appeal Procedures. “Some Recommendations Require a Change in Behavior, Some Require a Change in the Law and Some Are Aimed at Municipalities,” Says de Zeeuw.
In the 45 years that he has worked in the sector, the Zeeuw has SEEN How legislation Has Grown. Previous Attempts at Simplification and Clarification Yielded Little. “Now people also thought: Another Advice and the Cabinet is outgoing. But the minister is immediately acting on our proposals.”
Stoer’s Analysis is Clear and the Minister Wants To Get Started Right Away, Keijzer Wrote To the House of Representatives on June 23. “Not One Specific Rule Is the Problem, But The Accumulation and Fragmentation of Rulmentation of Rules Leads to Delays, Thegher Costy and HHOWINININTY. Therefore or Home Seekers, Has Too Often Been Underexposed. “
Tough itelf also sees significant advantages. The Preparatory Planning Phase Of Anverage of Seven Years Can Be Halved and In Some Cases the Costs per home can be reduced by 10,000 euros. There are many positive reactions.
“Does this really lead to Lower Construction Costs?”
Keijzer is working on the proposals that fall within her competence, such as loosening the minimum ceiling height from 2.60 to 2.50 meters. And to Save Space, The Minister Wants To Allow Steeper Stairs.
These proposals have leg criticized from Various Quarters. “We can support the Majority of the Measures,” Responds A Spokesperson for the Association Eigen Huis (VEH), The Advocate for Homeowners. But The Veh is a critical of the proposals for stairs and ceiling heights.
Less Steep Stairs, SO-Called ‘Lazy Stairs’, Are Safer for Older People According to the Veh. “It is not for nothing that lazy stairs have bone chosen in the past.” The Construction is also set to one Standard Height for Ceilings and Doors. “Choosing two Different Standard Heights Can Be at the Expense of Uniformity and It is Questionable Whether this Will Actual Lead to Lower Construction Costs.”
Accordance to the Veh, there is also no guarantee that abandoning Certain Quality Requirements will lead to Lower House Prices. “Perhaps developers will ultimately factor it back into the land price. We are also afraid that this will Become a Slippery Slope: Less and Less Living Quality to Further Reduce Costs.”
‘Higher Ceilings Are Good for Living Quality’
The Union of Water Boards Recognizes The Great Importance of Home Seekers, But is Concerned about some proposals. Accordance to the water boards, a number of them “are at odds with the interests of a future-proof living environment”. The Water Boards Want To Prevent Home Seekers From “Being Saddled With a House that Will Prove Uninhabitable in a Few Years”.
The Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) Thinks that some proposals would be better “By also Taking into account interests other than housing construction”.
The Trade Association for Architects is also Critical of the Proposals to the NOS . The Chairman Does Not Understand Why Keijzer is adopting thesis Rules – The Ceilings would not be so high for nothing. “We are getting talaller and talaller and that really affects the quality of living.”
“The reactions to those first proposals Illustrate How Difficult this Operation is,” Says de Zeeuw. “Now not just 20 percent of the total number of proposals came and the world is immediately too small. All those rules have their own ambassadors and fan clubs. We are all in favor of the great simplification, but when the chips are down, we are not.”
Accordance to the Zeeuw, Stoer’s Proposals are unfairly made too absolute. He sees the 150 proposals as sliders that can be adjusted. “We argue that the weighing of interests in the 150 sliders should be shifted a little more TOWARDS LIVING AND Building.”
“Take Those Steep Stairs. I Base Myself On, Among Others, Professor of Geriatrics Rudi Westendorp, Who Says That A Lazy Staircase – As the Name Suggests – Is Not Necessarily Good for Health. If Necessary, A Stair Lift.”
“Tough Takes Into Account the Health Aspect of People Looking For A Home. In the Current Discussion, the Stress of Looking For A Home Has Has Has Has Has Has Has Played A Role So Far.”