Judge says no to 4,000 new student homes in Amstelveen
The construction of new student housing in the vicinity of Schiphol Airport violates the Aviation Act, according to the Council of State. That means the end of the large-scale plans for new housing next to the Uilenstede student campus.
In the vacant office district Kronenburg, right next to Uilenstede, the municipality wanted to build 2,500 new student homes and over 1,500 homes for international students and employees. Later, another 500 houses would be built for the latter group. But the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management did not give permission and went to the Administrative Law Division of the Council of State. Today the Council annulled this part of the zoning plan: without the consent of the Ministry the plans will not go ahead.
In 2018 the Ministry objected to the plan to substantially expand Uilenstede. Overflying airplanes would have endangered the safety and health of residents. But new laws and regulations came along that gave Amstelveen the idea that there were possibilities after all. In June 2021, the municipality, on its own, adjusted upward the standards for the noise impact on future homes.
Moreover, the cabinet did not seem to speak with one voice. Minister Kajsa Ollongren of the Interior concluded a "housing deal" with Amsterdam and the surrounding municipalities, in which Kronenburg was considered the most important location for new student housing. The province, Schiphol Airport and the Amsterdam educational institutions supported the plans.
Accidents
Minister Mark Harbers of Infrastructure did not allow himself to be persuaded and went to the Council of State in November. 'Uilenstede and Kronenburg lie in zone 4 of the Schiphol Airport zoning ordinance,' explained a spokesperson from the Environmental and Transport Inspectorate. The noise pollution and the chance of accidents are greater there than in other zones and therefore the number of houses may be increased by a maximum of 25.
Today the Administrative Law Division ruled in favor of the minister. To the anger of the Amsterdam Student Union Asva, which has already demonstrated against the threatening decision and is announcing new actions. Board member of the student union Job Vermaas: 'Uilenstede has existed for 50 years and people live there very well. It is incomprehensible that students are allowed to live on one side of the street, but not on the other. Duwo, the housing association that was to build the student housing, says in a press release that it is 'very disappointed' with the Council of State's decision.
