Broader scope to push forward with Vlijtse Parktorens in Apeldoorn

This third article in the series ‘Pushing ahead in Area Development’ shows how VanWonen pushes ahead in its projects. We previously explored the policy breakthroughs that are needed for the housing market. And we dived into the data to see which Dutch municipalities are leading the charge in speeding up housing construction. How is VanWonen accelerating the process?

Scaling up from 100 to 390 homes, and from 1 to 2 plots. This is how VanWonen is pushing forward with the Vlijtse Parktorens. Four residential towers will be built on the former site of Sport Kerschoten and Wensink dance school. They will house sustainable apartments for first-time home seekers, families and seniors. VanWonen will realize 167 affordable homes for housing association Ons Huis. As such, the residential towers will make a meaningful social impact and breath new life into the former Kanaalzone industrial area. The residential towers are situated in a green environment, with the Wensink dance school, restaurants and a health centre on the ground level. The existing supermarket, new parking hub and new swimming pool are nearby. Together, they create a lively residential area in which everyone will feel at home.

Smart choices
Auke: “In consultation with the Municipality of Apeldoorn, we have made smart decisions to ramp up our impact. For instance, to ensure development speed, the 50-meter swimming pool was decoupled from our part of the project. It will now be realized at a different location on the square. We also opted for a central parking hub on the square instead of a private multi-storey car park. That gave us more scope for other developments. Such as the land swap with the Wensink dance school. We bought their plot, which included an outdated dance floor and two dwellings, in exchange for a brand-new dance floor and two new homes. By eliminating parking from the plans, we have freed up room for commercial and social uses on the plinth level. This enhances the overall appeal. It revitalizes the dance school. And it ensures we have an attractive plinth level. Thanks to these decisions and the land swap with Wensink, we can build our homes on two plots. We have gone from 100 to 390 homes, plus a dance school. It makes our development easier to phase, thereby making it more feasible while creating a greater social impact.”

Pragmatic design
VanWonen is also aiming for rapid progress with the design by Barcode Architects. Auke: “These are four identical towers that can essentially be replicated. Only the height, the type and the number of apartments differ. The tallest tower is 70 metres. The other three are 60, 50 and 40 meters tall.” Arthur: “Nevertheless, it’s proving difficult to find a contractor who can also meet our requirements for affordable housing. That’s still a challenge. But we aren’t settling for anything less than the best value for our money.” Martijn: “During information sessions, we gathered valuable input regarding housing preferences. This contributes to the saleability and rentability of the apartments. We also held individual discussions with local residents. As a result, we decided to scrap one floor of the building to make sure the design fits in better with the surroundings.” 

Good agreements
Developing an attractive plan in consultation with the municipality and with input from the local community is one of the keys to success. Auke: “Another way to get things moving is the agreement we’ve made with housing association Ons Huis. They will acquire all 167 social housing units as a single turnkey delivery. This allows us to move forward quickly with the tallest tower in this area development. And our local construction partner, Draisma, has agreed to team up with a construction firm that specializes in high-rise projects. Their readiness to collaborate speaks volumes about their pride in the project and their loyalty to the vision. That kind of spirit is great to see in a partnership.” 

Doubling down on quality
Pushing forward is about speed, feasibility and phasing. How do you safeguard quality in this dynamic? Arthur: “The fact that we are realizing 42% social housing is exactly how we create quality. We are building for the groups that need it most right now. And are creating healthy homes in a green environment.” Martijn: “Through our crowdsourcing and participation sessions, we make sure the size and layout of the apartments match what people are looking for. At VanWonen, the customer is at the heart of everything we do, right from the first sketch. We develop for people and their housing preferences. VanWonen manages the entire development process, including sales. It gives us a significant edge and the power to get things done.”

Auke: “Quality is also found in effective collaboration. The multidisciplinary nature of the project and our hands-on collaboration with the municipality of Apeldoorn are key factors in creating the scope we need. A strong team with a solid project manager and alderman is crucial, as are open communication channels. We switch easily between the various administrative and political spheres. It allows us to  push forward.”  Martijn: “We have a shared goal: to create an attractive living environment together. Our joint decisions contribute to this.”

Developing with intent
Auke: “Let’s not forget our own complementary team. Together we are strong and committed to making this great plan a reality. With that objective in mind, we make the right decisions. That can be a rational decision, for example, based on affordability. At other times, we focus on the best possible quality. That’s how we play all the cards available in this wonderful development.” Arthur concludes: “I am proud that we have managed to put this integrated plan together in just 18 months through good collaboration. And I can’t wait for us to have our first dance on the new Wensink floor as a team in mid-2029.”