Solutions to continue plans and projects


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by Heleen Aarts

CEO Amvest

Although the coronacrisis is dominating our world, in the housing sector we are working very hard to ensure that the housing production can continue as much as possible. The demand for houses is still very large and the fundaments of the Dutch housing market is solid. That won’t change in a few weeks.

In our sector (public and private, local and national) we are actively trying to make agreements that will ensure that plans and project can continue. Cancelling or freezing is highly undesirable. If we encounter obstacles, we try to solve them as quickly as possible. The government, for example, activates municipalities to go on with making plans and granting permits. Last week, the noodwet digitale besluitvorming passed, which means that municipalities’ decision making processes can now continue digitally. This is a very important step. The ministry is in close contact with the sector to quickly identify alle obstacles and is acting in accordance.

The government, for example, activates municipalities to go on with making plans and granting permits.

Construction sites remain open as much as possible and the protocol ‘working safely together’ helps enormously. There have been created well workable corona-proof processes when viewing and delivering houses.

What we do see, of course, is that consumeren are currently reluctant about making moving decisions. The confidence of the consumer will certainly be affected and with that the housing market. Also, people will encounter losses in their income. Therefore – in addition to the measures taken by the central government – agreements are being made with landlords and banks about the (postponement of) rent and mortgage payments.

I am impressed by the solidarity and solution-oriented attitude of all parties in our sector. I am convinced that this attitude will take us far.