Flex homes Van Leeuwenhoekweg Hellevoetsluis

The Municipality of Voorne aan Zee is investigating whether it is possible to build 100 flex-homes on the Van Leeuwenhoekweg in Hellevoetsluis, on the former traffic exercise yard, for starters and urgent seekers. Emergency seekers are persons who urgently need a house (in the social rental sector) and do not qualify for it in the usual way of registration. Persons who, for example, can no longer live with their parents, who are divorced, or who have already become homeless. Status holders also fall into this category, in this case status holders waiting for family reunification. The word "Flex" refers not only to the type of housing, but also to the target groups. The housing is a solution for emergency seekers, with the intention of allowing them to move on.

The site on Van Leeuwenhoekweg is owned by the municipality. Flex housing is basically housing that is relocatable. We plan to build the homes on this site for a longer period of time, because the demand for housing remains high for the time being. The advantage of this housing type is that they can be built quickly, in ready-made parts. The plan assumes 100 small, but high-quality homes, with up to three stories. The municipality also wants to create eight caravan sites on this site.

Is it already certain that the homes will be there?

Right now we are still in the research phase. We are going through a number of steps in this research phase. We are looking at what suits this place in terms of the type of housing, but also the design of the outdoor space. We are also looking at what procedures we need to follow. And we need to know what environmental requirements the location must meet in order to place housing there. The first research results have been received and from them it can be concluded that the requirements can probably be met.

How will local residents be involved?

We are happy to engage with local residents and businesses in the area at the residents' meeting on Wednesday, November 12. We will show local residents and other interested parties what we have in mind when it comes to the layout of the area. And we would like to know what is important to you as we develop this plan. We want to take that into account as much as possible before we finalize the plan.

When will the homes be there?

The area now has no residential zoning. If we want to make "living" possible there, we must first regulate this with a procedure for an "out-of-plan environmental plan activity. In that procedure there are also opportunities to give a formal reaction (view) to the plan. We will start this procedure once we have completed the investigations (including participation with stakeholders). 

After completing the spatial procedure, we can start the realization. It is difficult to give a timetable for this because we do not yet know, for example, what reactions there will be in the participation round and whether formal objections will be made during the procedure. However, to give you an idea of when the houses can be realized: we need at least until the end of the year to complete all the preparations, then the procedure will start and it will take at least three months but probably longer, after all, we have to build and the site has to be laid out (landscaping, parking spaces and the like). All together this will take at least a year.

What will the plan look like?

We commissioned an initial urban design to see what is possible on this site. This resulted in a concept design that assumes different housing types, parking spaces, a green area and the realization of sufficient water. In addition, space has been made for 8 new trailer sites. We have a legal obligation to provide these additional caravan sites. There is also a shortage of housing among this target group. Since there are already caravan sites in the area, we see this location as an opportunity to meet our task.