Integrated planning is needed to prevent conflicting interests and disjointed policy from dominating regional spatial development. The provincial councils play a crucial role. These are the main conclusions from three case studies described in the Nature Balance.

Regional planning often involves conflicting interests and stakeholders are often confronted with disjointed and compartmentalised policies. This was the case in the new Arkemheen-Eemland National Landscape, where there are plans for major housing developments. Decision-making on the new National Landscape and on the plans for new housing and the disposal of dredged material follow different procedures, both at the national and provincial government level. For example, the new housing development for Amersfoort has been kept outside the boundary of the National Landscape, but will still have an adverse impact on its core quality of ‘extreme openness’. 

Experience shows that a cross-cutting, integrated approach to spatial planning is needed to avoid such outcomes. The integrated plan-making for the IJssel delta was able to avoid the type of disjointed decision-making that occurred in Arkemheen-Eemland. In the Veluwe region, Gelderland Provincial Council also took an integrated approach in its study of options for relocating recreation businesses from vulnerable wildlife areas to less sensitive sites. By drawing up a regional vision in which the interests of no single local authority were allowed to take precedence, the provincial council was able to obtain net benefits for nature. The integrated approaches taken in the Veluwe and the IJssel delta were highly praised by all involved.

The Arkemheen-Eemland National Landscape consists of open fen meadows to the north of Amersfoort. Construction of the Vathorst-West housing development on the site indicated will reduce the open space between the built-up areas of Amersfoort and Bunschoten to a strip of about 1 km wide.

All three case studies reveal the crucial role of the provincial councils. Not only do they weigh up often conflicting planning objectives and land use proposals, but they are also capable of initiating area-based planning processes and taking on a coordinating role. 

• See also: National Landscapes not yet protected