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Planning protection for landscapes

Areas have been designated where the landscape will be protected against undesirable development.

Current situation


To protect the landscape against undesirable development, some areas are subject to planning protection set out in a Key Planning Decision (Planologische Kernbeslissing, PKB). PKB protection may involve (1) "restricted areas" policy or (2) the scheme covering "Areas for Conservation and Restoration of the Existing Quality of the Landscape" (Gebieden van Behoud en Herstel Bestaande Landschapskwaliteit).

Policy objectives


The government intends preventing the urbanisation of the countryside in the "restricted areas" specified in the Fourth Memorandum on Spatial Planning Extra (Vierde Nota over de Ruimtelijke Ordening extra, VINEX). The state is responsible for certain restricted areas and the provinces for others. The restricted areas are located mainly in the part of the country where the pressure of urbanisation is high. In these areas, no urbanisation is permitted outside the boundaries for building indicated in the regional plans.

The scheme covering "Areas for Conservation and Restoration of the Existing Quality of the Landscape" in the first Green Space Structure Plan (Structuurschema Groene Ruimte) focuses on the preservation of landscape features such as relief, land parcellation patterns and patterns of roads and watercourses. These areas have been designated due to their geomorphological, cultural and historical features and are located throughout the country.

Evaluation


Evaluation of the restrictions set out in VINEX shows that the policy is not stringent enough to prevent urbanisation completely but that it can slow it down. Forty percent of proposals for development within the restricted areas are dropped before they even begin to be dealt with formally; in the formal procedure, almost 40% of those that remain are also dropped. As a result, urbanisation of the "Green Heart of Holland" (one of the restricted areas) increased by 0.3% between 1995 and 1999 as opposed to 0.85% elsewhere in the province of Zuid-Holland and 1% in Utrecht.

Technical note


The map shows the restricted areas specified in the Fourth Memorandum on Spatial Planning Extra and the "Areas for Conservation and Restoration of the Existing Quality of the Landscape" in the Green Space Structure Plan.

References


  • During, R. en P.H. Kersten (2000). Wonderlijke zelfbinding of verborgen calculatie. Onderzoeksverslag van de werking of het restrictief beleid uit de VINEX/VINAC. Alterra. Wageningen.
  • Hazendonk, N.F.C., E.J. van Beusekom en B.L. Looise (2000). Landschap in feiten en cijfers. Expertisecentrum LNV. Wageningen.
  • LNV (1995). Structuurschema Groene Ruimte: het landelijk gebied de moeite waard. Deel 4: Planologische Kernbeslissing. Ministerie van Landbouw, Natuurbeheer en Visserij. Den Haag.
  • VROM (1992). Vierde nota over de ruimtelijke ordening extra; deel 4: Planologische Kernbeslissing Nationaal Ruimtelijk Beleid. Ministerie voor Volkshuisvestiging, Ruimtelijke Ordening en Milieu. Den Haag.
  • Wit, A.J.W. de en H.A.M. Thunnissen (2001). Veranderend grondgebruik beter te monitoren. VI Matrix, 2001: 5-7.
This page was last changed on 25 May 2004  (version 01).