Dutch Court of Audit Finds Limited Impact of Housing Boost Scheme
The Hague – A new report from the Dutch Court of Audit reveals the government’s “Woningbouw Impuls” (WBI) scheme, intended to accelerate and reduce the cost of home building, has largely failed to deliver on its speed and affordability goals. While the WBI demonstrably increases the proportion of affordable homes built, it hasn’t demonstrably increased the number of homes built, and frequently enough doesn’t speed up construction.
The audit found that projects receiving WBI contributions experience delays comparable to those rejected for funding. Only 62 percent of projects granted WBI funds began construction within the required three-year timeframe. Delays are attributed to lengthy Council of State procedures and time-consuming investigations related to noise pollution, parking, and protected species.”So more public money is not the solution here,” the Court of Audit concluded. Staff shortages in the construction sector also contribute to the problem.
The Court of Audit suggests refocusing the scheme solely on affordable housing or complex projects, alongside broader government efforts to streamline procedures and increase the availability of building locations.
Despite the findings, Minister Keijzer disputes the report, claiming the audit is based on “wrong insights” and a limited comparison group. She maintains the WBI “has been necessary to ensure that housing projects get off the land with sufficient affordable homes” and has announced a new round of funding for the scheme.
