National Strategy on Spatial Planning and the Environment A sustainable perspective for our living environment Draft National Strategy on Spatial Planning and the Environment | 1 2 | Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations Table of contents Summary 4 1. About the National Strategy on Spatial Planning and the Environment 9 1.1 A sense of urgency; a perspective for the Netherlands 9 1.2 New vision, new approach 10 1.3 A different view, different choices 11 1.4 Scope and positioning 12 1.5 Cooperation and practical implementation 13 1.6 Development 14 1.7 Structure of the NOVI 16 2. Future perspective 19 2.1 A climate-resilient delta 22 2.2 Sustainable, competitive and circular 24 2.3 Quality of life in towns, cities and urban regions 27 2.4 Proximity and reliable connections 30 2.5 Healthy and safe, recognisable and natural 33 2.6 Looking forward to 2050 37 3. National interests and tasks in the physical living environment 45 3.1 Relevance of national interests 45 3.2 National interests and tasks 46 3.3 National Main Structure for the Living Environment 65 3.4 From tasks to priorities 68 4. Directing priorities 71 4.1 Environment-inclusive policy: consideration principles 71 4.2 From priorities to policy choices 76 4.2.1 Priority 1 Space for climate adaptation and energy transition 76 4.2.2 Priority 2 Sustainable economic growth potential 90 4.2.3 Priority 3 Strong and healthy cities and regions 108 4.2.4 Priority 4 Futureproof development of rural areas 135 5. Cooperation and practical implementation 159 5.1 How can we work together? 159 5.2 How do we intend to elaborate and implement the NOVI in practice 162 Draft National Strategy on Spatial Planning and the Environment | 3 Summary The document before you is the National Strategy on Spatial Planning and the Environment (Nationale Omgevingsvisie - NOVI), in which national government presents its long-term vision on the future development of the living environment in the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, we are facing a number of urgent societal challenges, at regional, national and international level. The large and complex challenges such as climate change, the energy transition, the circular economy, accessibility and (the building of) houses are set to bring about major changes in the Netherlands. We already have a long tradition of adaptation. Against that background, we can use these challenges to move forwards and at the same time to preserve the Netherlands as an attractive nation for future generations. The NOVI represents a perspective for tackling these major challenges, for making our country even more attractive and stronger while building further on the existing landscape and historical cities. The key term is environmental quality, or more precisely spatial quality combined with the quality of the environment, all taking into account societal values and substantive standards for example with regard to health, safety and the natural environment. In that interplay of standards, values and collective ambitions, the aim of the NOVI is to promote cooperation between all stakeholders. The NOVI in fact proposes a new, integrated approach that brings together all levels of government and civil society, all with greater control from national government. By constantly and carefully considering all the affected interests, we will work towards our priorities: space for climate adaptation and energy transition, sustainable (circular) economic growth potential, strong and healthy cities and regions and the futureproof development of rural areas. The sustainable renewal of the Netherlands is a long-term process. At the same time, current developments challenge our capacity to respond rapidly to developments in society. The COVID-19 pandemic, for example, illustrates just how vulnerable we are. The Cabinet is currently working on a policy for economic recovery. It is essential that this recovery policy also serves our objectives in terms of policy for the living environment, for the longer term. In that way, short-term problem solving will remain in line with the strategic vision expressed in the NOVI. That combination creates possibilities for utilising opportunities for synergy, for example by opting for recovery measures that not only contribute to public health but also to improving the quality and sustainability of the living environment. With regard to each of the four NOVI priorities referred to above, both short-term and long-term measures will be needed, that constantly interact with one another, in practice: 1. Already the Netherlands is facing longer periods of drought. This increases the urgent need to improve the match between water consumption and the available water supply, and that we retain water, for longer. This is just one example of the essential choices that already need to be taken and that have a major impact on the physical living environment. Functions that use the physical living environment must be better harmonised with the characteristics of the soil and water system. These choices will contribute to achieving a climate-resilient situation by 2050, in which the Netherlands is prepared for climate change and sea level rise. We must also consider the energy transition: already today, that process is demanding that we make choices that take account of long-term effects. At sea we are seeking to secure space for wind turbines. The recently established North Sea Agreement reveals the presence of many other interests. On land, the main infrastructure for the transport and storage of renewable energy is already revealing shortcomings, in certain areas. As we approach 2050, the proportion of renewable energy is due to increase further. That then will require further adjustments to the energy infrastructure. The challenge of finding space for the sources of renewable energy is itself considerable. Against that background, the NOVI provides potential solutions that all take account of the quality of the living environment in integrating the energy infrastructure. 4 | Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations 2. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are working hard to mitigate the consequences for our economy as far as possible. In the short term, those efforts demand unheard of government interventions and investments. The real skill lies in helping to ensure that those interventions and investments also serve our long-term ambition, namely making our energy supply renewable and our economy circular, while bolstering the quality of our living environment. In selecting the locations for offices, business parks, large-scale logistic functions and data centers, together with the demands of businesses and economic vitality, connections to the traffic and transport network and the electricity grid, we are also considering the attractiveness and quality of the urban and rural environment. Our goal is to encourage active clustering of (large- scale) logistic functions at logistic hubs located alongside (inter)national corridors. 3. The role of the NOVI is to build towards strong, attractive and healthy cities. We will continue working towards the development and expansion of Netherlands Urban Network, with the aim of creating an easily accessible network of cities and regions. At the same time, the huge current demand for housing calls for urgent solutions. For the short term, the Cabinet has therefore proposed a package of measures aimed at delivering a new, solid boost to house building. The locations for new residential areas are based in the Netherlands Urban Network, and this development is taking place in line with the ambition of the integrated urbanisation strategy, wherever possible within existing urban areas, while remaining climate resilient and nature inclusive. Large areas of open space between the cities are set to retain their green character. The range and quality of green facilities in our cities will be reinforced, with improved links to green areas outside the cities. The COVID-19 crisis has further underlined the huge importance of the sound layout and use of public space. 4. The nitrogen problem has had a huge influence both on rural areas and a number of economic sectors. The value of our nature, the landscape and the future of agriculture are all under pressure. Enhancing biodiversity is clearly not only an ecological but specifically also an economic challenge that is calling for an urgent short-term response. Nonetheless, sustainable solutions take time. For the longer term, we are therefore working towards a gradual and carefully considered restructuring of our rural areas, also with the aim of establishing cyclic agriculture in sound balance with the nature and landscape values. This will help establish rural areas that offer a pleasant environment for living, working and recreation, while still permanently offering space for economic viable agriculture, as a key driver for the rural environment. In other words, we will tackle the challenges facing us while continuing to develop a long-term strategy for overcoming those challenges. The combination of all these ambitions will place huge demands on our living environment. A whole raft of interests and claims must be given the space they need in the 41,000 square kilometres that make up the Netherlands. Not everything will be possible, and certainly not everything will be possible everywhere. Clashes are inevitable. The question is how can we cash in on the opportunities available to us, while still facing up to the potential threats: what do we need to realise our ambitions? In this process, national government must and will take the lead. Shortages mean that choices will have to be made. Based on the vision of the NOVI, national government is offering frameworks and guidelines for both national and local choices. But we must remember that national government is not granting itself a role as a centralising force. Indeed, the responsibility is borne jointly by all parties.