Urban development projects begin in Apeldoorn and Almelo

Renovation work has officially commenced on the former HEMA building in Apeldoorn, marking a significant step toward the development of the Stadspark Oranjerie. The municipal monument on Hoofdstraat will be repurposed to house entrepreneurs currently located in the Oranjerie complex. This move allows businesses to relocate within the city center before the large-scale redevelopment of the Oranjerie area, which aims to replace the current shopping center with a new district featuring approximately 450 homes, shops, catering, and a green city park.

In Almelo, the Council of State has issued a final ruling allowing the hardware store Hornbach to establish a location on the local residential boulevard. The decision follows a 15-year dispute involving local residents and competing businesses, such as Gamma and Praxis, who raised concerns regarding increased traffic and potential market saturation. While competitors argued the new store could lead to vacancies, the Council of State determined that the municipality demonstrated Hornbach would complement the existing assortment. Although the Council noted a lack of prior traffic impact research, subsequent studies indicated that local roads can accommodate the additional traffic, provided specific zoning requirements are met.