Heerlen takes major step toward new housing policy

During its meeting on September 24, the municipal council of Heerlen unanimously approved the introduction of the Special Measures for Metropolitan Problems Act (Wbmgp). With this decision, an official application will be submitted to the national government
The Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning (VRO) will make a decision within eight weeks of submission. If the decision is positive, we expect to officially start implementing the new housing policy and the associated instruments on January 1, 2026.

Casper Gelderblom:
"We are very pleased that the Heerlen City Council unanimously supports this proposal. With the three housing pillars and the associated Wbmgp, we can break through the concentration of poverty in the most vulnerable neighborhoods and focus on retaining our working and studying residents. We have achieved this together with all our partners, and following the excellent result of the unanimous council decision, we are sending the application to the national government. In this way, we are continuing to work energetically on strong and stable neighborhoods and are literally and figuratively building a growing, resilient city." 

The city council offered several options for 'renaming' the official name of the Wbmgp to something more fitting for our city and region. The official name of a law is determined by the national government, but that doesn't stop us from giving it a recognizable local twist. In the spirit of our regional cooperation and with a nod to its content and purpose, we have already heard a new nickname buzzing around: the Parkstad Act. And to be honest, that name doesn't feel out of place at all. Because it is precisely in Parkstad that we are working together to build strong and stable neighborhoods, resilient communities, and a future full of opportunities for everyone.

The new housing policy is based on three strong pillars of Heerlen housing:

  • Investing in housing and facilities that strengthen communities.
  • Cherishing residents who leave the city too often or find it difficult to move there due to a shortage of suitable housing.
  • Regulating the influx of poverty from outside the Parkstad region.