Zuid-Holland to spend another 20 million euros on accelerating housing construction

The province of Zuid-Holland will spend an extra 20 million euros on increasing the speed of housing construction. This money will be taken from the reserves and added to the subsidy arrangements for the next two years at the request of a majority of the Provincial States.

Another 20 million euros will be added to this budget for 2025 and 2026. Municipalities that are struggling with the amount of money required to build social housing can apply for the subsidy. Municipalities and construction companies can also request a contribution to hire experts.

Zuid-Holland has a target to build almost a quarter of a million homes between 2022 and 2030, with 100,000 of those being social housing. Because it usually takes years before a plan is realized, political parties GroenLinks-PvdA, VVD, BBB, CDA, ChristenUnie, D66, SP, and JOU want the province to invest extra money now so that it can be realized at a faster pace.

They, therefore, submitted an amendment during the discussion of the 2025 budget, which freed up an additional 20 million euros. A majority of the States (38-17) agreed.

"We really want to accelerate the next two years," said Tijmen Lamers of GroenLinks-PvdA. "Goals for 2030 still seem far away, but it will be years before a construction plan is approved and the first piles are driven. So something must be done now if we want to ensure that we solve the shortages."

Zuid-Holland has more than 200 million euros in its general reserves. That is the province's own capital.