Towards More Sustainability to Challenge the Nitrogen Crisis the Path Towards Sustainable Innovation in the Construction Phase of Dutch Residential Area Development
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Towards more sustainability to challenge the nitrogen crisis The path towards sustainable innovation in the construction phase of Dutch residential area development. Colophon Author: Noor Simons Student number: 4723058 Concerns: Master’s Thesis of Spatial Planning Educational institution: Nijmegen School of Management Radboud University Nijmegen The Netherlands Program: Spatial Planning Specialization: Planning, Land and Real Estate Development Supervisor: Dr. P.J. Beckers Second reader: H.J. Kooij Date: October 11, 2020 Word count: 28.588 words (excl. appendices and references) 1 Abstract In this research the transition towards a sustainable construction phase in Dutch residential area development is central. On May, 2019 the PAS was declared invalid by the council of state (Raad van State) which led to shutting down the majority of projects in Dutch residential area development. This is problematic since these projects are in the public interest because of the current housing shortage. To overcome this challenge a long- term solution focusing on sustainability is necessary. Despite that the user phase is responsible for more nitrogen emission compared to the construction phase the focus in this research is on the latter. Reason is that the user phase is already central in practice and the user phase is still left behind, meaning that most steps can be made in this phase. Thus, the nitrogen crisis should be seen as an incentive for a structural change towards more sustainability in Dutch residential area development. This structural change can be seen as a transition. The goal of this research is to provide a contribution to innovative aspects within the construction phase of Dutch residential area development towards a transition to diminish the nitrogen emission. A multiple case study is used to see projects as niches where innovations are researched which can contribute to a transition. Within niches different stakeholders work together on micro level to start a change. Linked to the goal of this research is the main question: How can innovative aspects within the construction phase of residential area development contribute to a transition to diminish the nitrogen emission in the Netherlands? Transitions are complex processes which are shaped by development on different scale levels. These different scale levels are: macro, meso, and micro. In this research the focus is on the micro scale level, which relates to niches. Niches can be seen as a protected space where innovations are able to develop. The success of a niche is influenced by several internal processes: the formation and stabilization of a social network, the formation and stabilization of strategies and expectations, and learning processes. It is important that niches get enough space to develop. Only successful niches can contribute to a transition. This contribution can be indicated with the following terms: deepen, broaden, and scaling. The link between the quality of the internal processes and the contribution to a transition has been researched for the projects De Groene Loper, Lage Heide, Arce Novum, and Lindenkruis. This means there has been chosen for a multiple case study which makes the research qualitative. For each case 1 or 2 interviews have been conducted by phone in order to gain more knowledge about which aspects they see as potentially innovative, their internal processes and their contribution to a transition. In the conclusion it became clear that the aspects machines and transport are seen as most contributing polluters to the nitrogen emission in the construction phase. Thus, these are the aspects that need to innovate and therefore need to develop within a niche. For a niche to develop successful it is important to determine the quality of the internal processes, this also determines their contribution to a possible transition. The project De Groene Loper has the largest contribution to a transition through the process of broadening. The projects Lage Heide, Arce Novum and Lindenkruis share the same contribution to a transition through the process of deepening. Since the projects are selected based on their size this is a criteria that should be considered. The two large projects, De Groene Loper and Lage Heide, differ from each other on every aspect that has been analyzed in this research. Therefore, it can be concluded that there is no link between the size of the project when they can be considered large and those aspects. However, the two medium projects, Arce Novum and Lindenkruis, are similar on most aspects. Therefore, it can be concluded that there is a link between the size of the project when they can be considered as medium projects and those aspects. It can be concluded that the supposed link between the quality of the internal processes 2 within a niche and the contribution of this niche to a transition can be confirmed. The more the internal processes are valued, the bigger the contribution to a transition in terms of deepen, broaden, and deepen is. So for the innovative aspects machines and transport to contribute to a transition to diminish the nitrogen emission in the construction phase multiple important aspects are relevant: 1. the composition of the social network, 2. a clear final image based on transcending the legal requirements, 3. main focus on results, 4. considering obstacles outside of the niche. Keywords Residential area development, construction phase, sustainable transition, nitrogen crisis 3 Preface This is the end result of my master’s thesis to complete the master Spatial Planning: Planning, Land and Real Estate Development at Radboud University, Nijmegen. This thesis is about sustainable innovation in the construction phase of Dutch residential area development. In this research the focus is on the cases De Groene Loper, Lage Heide, Arce Novum, and Lindenkruis. Based on interviews with relevant stakeholders from these projects the analysis and an answer to the main question were formed. The plan was to write this master’s thesis in combination with an internship at Lievense|WSP, Maastricht. Unfortunately due to COVID- 19 this internship has been suspended. This created some challenges during the research process. I would like to thank Franci Vanweert from Lievense|WSP for the guidance during the few weeks’ internship. Also, I would like to thank my thesis supervisor dr. P.J. Beckers for the guidance and feedback the past few months. Of course I would like to thank my friends, family and connections for sharing their network with me to increase the range of relevant projects. As last I would like to thank all the stakeholders for making time during this hectic period and sharing their information with me. Enjoy reading! Geleen, October 2020 Noor Simons 4 Contents 1. Introduction 9 1.1 Research problem statement 9 1.2 Research aim 10 1.3 Research question 10 1.4 Societal relevance 11 1.5 Scientific relevance 11 2. Theory 13 2.1 Theoretical framework 13 2.1.1 Phases in the development process 13 2.1.1.1. Construction phase 14 2.1.2. Transitions 15 2.1.3. Strategic Niche Management 18 2.1.4. Deepen, broaden and scaling 19 2.2 Conceptual framework 20 2.2.1 Operationalization 21 Innovation in the construction phase 21 Machines 21 Transport 21 Building time 21 Successful development of a niche 21 The formation of a social network 21 The formation of strategies and expectations 22 Learning processes 22 Contribution of a niche to a transition 22 Deepen 22 Broaden 22 Scaling 23 3. Methodology 25 3.1 Research philosophy 25 3.2 Research approach 25 3.3 Research strategy 25 3.3.1 Desk research 25 3.3.2 (Multiple) case study 25 5 3.4 Research method 27 3.4.1 Literature research 27 3.4.2 Interviews 27 3.4.2 Participants 27 3.4.2.1 Case: De Groene Loper 28 3.4.2.2 Case: Lage Heide 28 3.4.2.3 Case: Arce Novum 29 3.4.2.4 Case: Lindenkruis 29 3.5 Data analysis 29 3.6 Validity and reliability 29 3.7 Ethics 31 4. Case studies 32 4.1 Case: De Groene Loper 32 4.1.1. Context 32 4.1.2. Sustainability aspects 33 4.1.3. Stakeholders 34 4.2 Case: Lage Heide 35 4.2.1. Context 35 4.2.2. Sustainability aspects 35 4.3.2. Stakeholders 36 4.3 Case: Arce Novum 37 4.3.1 Context 37 4.3.2 Sustainability aspects 37 4.3.3 Stakeholders 38 4.4 Case: Lindenkruis 39 4.4.1 Context 39 4.4.2 Sustainability aspects 39 4.4.3 Stakeholders 40 5. Results 41 5.1 Sub question 1 41 5.1.1 Discussion 45 5.2 Sub question 2 47 5.2.1 Discussion 49 5.3 Sub question 3 51 6 5.3.1 Discussion 51 5.4 Sub question 4 53 5.4.1 Discussion 54 5.5 Sub question 5 56 5.5.1 Deepen 56 5.5.2 Broaden 57 5.5.3 Scaling 57 5.5.1 Discussion 58 7. Conclusion and recommendations 59 7.1 Conclusion 59 7.2 Recommendations 62 7.3 Critical reflection 63 8. References 64 9. Appendices 69 9.1 Appendix 1 Interviewguide 69 9.2 Appendix 2 Overview of codes Atlas.ti 72 7 List of figures Figure 1. [Development process] ..................................................................................................... 14 Figure 2. [Four phases of transition] ................................................................................................ 16 Figure 3. [The adaptive cycle] .......................................................................................................... 17 Figure 4. [Multiple levels as hierarchy]............................................................................................. 18 Figure 5. [Conceptual model] ........................................................................................................... 20 Figure 6. [Operationalization]