Ballast Nedam Development makes mobility sustainable in area development

In collaboration with Amber Netherlands and the municipality of Eindhoven, Ballast Nedam Development is building a sustainable housing and living concept for Berckelbosch. A concept that goes beyond developing homes, because (future) residents are also being sustainably shaped in their thinking and actions.

A residential neighborhood is sustainable only when residents understand what the term sustainable means to them. Time to scale up, then. Which means that Ballast Nedam Development goes beyond developing and building a gas-free home. For example, the layout of the 'urban carpet' within Berckelbosch has also been designed and implemented sustainably. For example, there is extra greenery to prevent heat stress, sustainable materials have been chosen and smart energy-efficient lighting of the neighborhood has been selected.

However, together with Amber Netherlands and the municipality of Eindhoven, the mobility issue has also become part of the sustainable living concept of Berckelbosch. In the sense that residents are 'helped' to make more sustainable and responsible choices when moving from A to B. A unique plan that was given substance on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 by committing to make a joint effort to make sustainable mobility within Berckelbosch - and thus Eindhoven - possible.

Alderman Van der Meer of the Municipality of Eindhoven is more than pleased with the covenant signed by the parties: "We are facing an enormous task to make residential areas within our city natural gas-free, based on established climate goals. And this is preceded by sustainability. In addition to energy-efficient homes and the additional initiatives to make completed homes more sustainable, Ballast NedamDevelopment and Amber Nederland are now going a step further in Berckelbosch, namely a sustainable total concept. As an alderman, I am pleased that initiatives like this are emerging and we as a government can literally offer them the space to make these initiatives possible."

First concrete interpretation consists of creating two parking spaces specifically for shared cars. Amber ensures that fully electric cars are always available here for Berckelbosch residents. Residents who need a car will therefore never miss out. The expectation here is that this will lead to reduced use or even ownership of fuel-driven cars.

Hans de Penning, CFO Amber Netherlands commented, "Our electric car sharing concept is successful in the Netherlands. Basically, we focus on users who do not yet own a car. In Berckelbosch we are now choosing to focus on car owners. Research shows that many people reconsider owning a second car when they move house. By being present and therefore visible in the neighborhood, the threshold for switching to shared cars is lower and their use is attractive and easy. Moreover, we guarantee availability even outside the usual places or hubs where our electric cars are used."

Unique agreement for a sustainable Berckelbosch
Ballast Nedam Development is developing the Eindhoven neighborhood of Berckelbosch, where a total of about 900 new homes are being built. Homes have been and will be delivered in several phases. Since 2017, all homes have been delivered gas-free.

Michiel Blom of Ballast Nedam Development is pleased with the new initiative and proud that innovation and sustainability is so high on the agenda. "That a developer takes initiatives to go one step further in sustainability each time, and not just apply the usual solutions, makes me proud. The drive for innovation and going one step further each time, underscores healthy urbanization and the Berckelbosch neighborhood."

Covenant
By signing the covenant, the parties ratified the initiative and underlined the importance of making the mobility of the Berckelbosch neighborhood more sustainable. On behalf of the municipality of Eindhoven, the covenant was signed by alderman Jan van der Meer, on behalf of Amber Nederland, the covenant was signed by fiancial director Hans de Penning, and on behalf of Ballast Nedam Development, it was signed by director Onno Dwars.