Utrecht to start construction on largest car-free neighborhood in the country next week

Construction of a new neighborhood is set to begin in Utrecht next week. The neighborhood, called Merwede, is scheduled to be the largest car-free district in the Netherlands, with 6,000 homes. The area will be between the Merwedekanaal and Park Transwijk, in the southwestern part of the city, and will be able to house an estimated 12,000 people.

The area consists of 1,800 social rental homes, 1,500 mid-range rental and affordable owner-occupied homes, and 2,700 private sector rental and owner-occupied homes, according to the municipality.

Despite the relatively limited size of the neighborhood, over half of the open space, roofs, and inner gardens will be sustainable. There will be space for many different types of plants and animals, water collection, and facilities to prevent heat stress.

There will be space for 250 shared cars, 21,500 bicycle parking spaces in the buildings, and two logistics hubs for parcels. The parking garages will be located on the edge of the district. The district will have high-quality public transport.

Merwede is a part of an extensive construction plan for Utrecht, where the city wants to build 63,000 to 77,000 homes from 2030.