The Netherlands is overflowing with building plans. The amount of land available for development is limited. As a result, there’s fierce competition for every square meter that becomes available. How can you increase your chances of obtaining a permit? And how can you ensure that your building plans get approved? You guessed it—by incorporating functional greenery. In this blog, we share what we’ve learned from our advisory processes.
Since January 1, 2024, building plans in the Netherlands must comply with the new Environmental Act. This means that construction, water management, infrastructure, public health, and nature are all part of policy at national, provincial, and municipal levels.
The role of nature is increasingly critical in the permit process. With climate change, spatial planning decisions are increasingly driven by water and soil management. In building plans, you now need to demonstrate how you promote biodiversity, reduce harmful emissions, and create climate-adaptive solutions. This applies not only to new constructions but also to the transformation of existing buildings. Municipalities are increasingly asking for landscape integration and the building’s place within the existing (and desired) flora and fauna. In other words: how does a building fit into its natural environment? And what role does high-quality greenery play in this?
Our clients often bring us in as early as the sketch design phase, so we can play an active role in the permit process. From the projects we’ve advised on, we’ve drawn the following seven key learnings.
Greenery isn’t something to add last-minute before submitting your building plans. To do it right, it needs to be an integral part of the project. We prefer to sit at the table as early as possible to identify opportunities and challenges. This allows us to think about climate adaptation challenges, spatial layout, how people will interact with their surroundings, and practical matters like water points and electrical needs for lighting and water features.
The high-end renders produced by design firms to give buildings an “urban jungle” look are often visually stunning but rarely reflect a realistic planting strategy. These images create a dream-like world. Instead, we sketch the planting concept roughly and use reference images from real-world projects, offering a more realistic representation through the seasons. Like this indoor jungle garden project.
When it comes to nature, you need experts who truly understand it. People who know which native plants will thrive and which cultivars will help achieve your goals. It’s also essential to involve not only ecologists but also landscape architects and asset managers to avoid tunnel vision. We have extensive experience co-creating with architects, supported by our own team members with landscape architecture, horticulture, asset management and design backgrounds. The broader your (team) expertise, the better equipped you are to present a holistic vision.
The demand for more nature in urban spaces has sparked a trend: large residential buildings with trees on every balcony. However, trees need solid ground for their roots to thrive. In a pot, they have shorter lifespans, and the balconies need heavy reinforcement to support the weight. The energy and materials required to construct such balconies counteract the healing benefits of nature. Our advice: opt for climbing plants and vines. They take up less space, create a lush appearance, support biodiversity, provide cooling, and create an insulating layer. Plus, they require less maintenance.
When people think of green roofs, they often picture sedum. However, sedum is typically installed on a synthetic base and has a day-night cycle that’s not ideal for insulation. Contrary to popular belief, sedum also requires significant maintenance and doesn’t look great for most of the year. Roofs offer ample space to boost biodiversity and climate adaptation with the right combination of perennials, ferns, and grasses. Plus, it looks genuinely beautiful. Be sure to account for this in the roof construction (see point 3).
When it comes to integration, the focus is on how a (new) building fits into its surroundings. By aligning your greenery with the surrounding natural environment, you increase your chances of securing a permit. You can take it a step further by proposing to enhance the public space around the building and even cover the costs of planting and maintenance. By not only adapting to but improving the environment’s climate resilience and biodiversity, you can win over policymakers. Plus, you can make better use of your building plots. From our experience: success guaranteed.
The many benefits of natural greenery are often well known, especially by people who work with these topics daily. Yet, it never hurts to repeat that high-quality greenery prevents heat stress, reduces waterlogging, improves air quality, boosts physical and mental health, and encourages social interaction. Nature is a gift that keeps on giving. Use it to your advantage. Need data? We’ve got the research ready for you.
Do you need help or could you use extra expertise when securing a tender or preparing a permit application? We’re happy to think along with you. Contact our green developer Olivia at +31(0)20-2618171 or by email. She can tell you much more about our unique approach and the results of our projects.
