Rotterdam City Council approves Nieuw Kralingen zoning plan

800 new homes on west side of Kralingse Bos

The Rotterdam City Council approved the Nieuw Kralingen zoning plan on Thursday, May 28, 2020. Nieuw Kralingen will expand Rotterdam with 800 new homes on the west side of the Kralingse Bos. Nieuw Kralingen is a development by Ontwikkelcombinatie Nieuw Kralingen (collaboration between Heijmans and TBI company ERA Contour). The zoning plan has been positively assessed by the Rotterdam City Council. Extra attention was requested for the protection of the current trees along Bosdreef and the possibility of housing development on the site of the existing metal companies.

New green space blends seamlessly with existing green space

Bosdreef will be moved in a northwesterly direction so that the residents of Nieuw Kralingen will have direct access to the forest. The many new green spaces will thus blend seamlessly with the existing greenery. The relocation of the Bosdreef requires the felling of trees. Already every tree has been mapped. The Ontwikkelcombinatie Nieuw Kralingen (OCNK) examined which trees can be preserved and protected. New specimens will be returned for the felled trees, so that the rich flora and fauna remains at least as rich as it is now.

Research for additional housing

The Rotterdam City Council has given the college an additional assignment for the area north of Nieuw Kralingen. A small part of the current industrial site there will remain with two metal companies. The city council wants to investigate whether housing development is possible on this site. If this is not possible, the city council asks for noise reduction measures. Project director OCNK Erick Schouten says: "Housing at this location will be an enrichment for Nieuw Kralingen, to which the Nieuw Kralingen Development Combination is happy to cooperate. If this proves unfeasible, we have a responsibility to provide mutual noise protection, so that businesses can function properly and residents have a pleasant living environment. We do this by constructing noise-protecting buildings between the companies and the residential area. This will be realized in the form of a number of buildings with space for, for example, a garden center, a hardware store, offices and business activity. With this solution, we meet the legal noise requirements in Nieuw Kralingen."

Rotterdammers look forward to New Kralingen

With the approval on the zoning plan of Nieuw Kralingen, the Ontwikkelcombinatie Nieuw Kralingen in cooperation with the municipality of Rotterdam can go full steam ahead with the development of this new district. Alderman Bas Kurvers: "Nieuw Kralingen will be a beautiful green district with room for families on the edge of the Kralingse Bos. The number of homes will increase by 800 with this project. This is one of the largest expansions within the ring of Rotterdam". Interest in Nieuw Kralingen is high. For both the Municipality of Rotterdam and the Nieuw Kralingen Development Association, this is proof that the people of Rotterdam are looking forward to this unique new place to live.