Van Wijnen, a housing company, will build sustainable houses whilst adhering to circular principles
Translated by Thomas Ansell
As reported by the Omrop Fryslân, the city of Heerenveen will soon host a huge new factory dedicated to creating pre-fabricated sustainable homes. Van Wijnen will employ around 200 people and produce about 4,000 homes each year. Building work will start at the beginning of 2021.
According to Van Wijnen, the new factory is intended to help combat the Netherlands’ current housing shortage. The homes manufactured at the factory will be easily and quickly erected, affordable, and made from materials that can be re-used at the end of their useful life (circular).
The Netherlands reportedly has a housing shortage of around 300,000 properties, whilst it is estimated that around 90,000 new homes per year are needed each year to 2030 to combat this shortage. Last year 71,000 new-build properties were completed.
All of the houses made in the new factory are intended for the social rent or affordable starters market. Van Wijnen is currently talking to various Gemeentes in the North about their technique and how the quick-build houses can be deployed most effectively.
Around 200 jobs will be created at the factory, too. Mayor Tjeerd van der Zwan (PvdA) is happy with the news: “that Van Wijnen chose to build their new factory in our Gemeente is outstanding news. Certainly for us locally, but also for the region in general.”
Image by Alynia Architects, via Van Wijnen
