The Future Starts Now: Utrecht Builds Car-Free Neighbourhood
Utrecht is to build a car-free neighbourhood for 12,000 residents, called Merwede. It will be between the Merwede Canal and the Transwijk Park.
The residential area replaces a business park.
There will be high-density housing, because Utrecht is one of the fastest-growing cities in the Netherlands and needs a lot more housing. Because of the density of population it’s important to make best use of the available space for greenery and recreation. This is done by designating the area car-free.
Cars take up space, and are not used 80-90% of the time.
Transport Arrangements
Residents will be asked to cycle, walk, use public transport, and to take advantage of car clubs. Utrecht Centraal station is about 10 minutes away by bike.
There are to be 250 shared cars, 21,500 cycle parking spaces in the buildings, and two logistics hubs for parcel deliveries.
The Buildings
Work on the development will start in the first half of 2023, and the first residents are expected to move in in 2025. There are to be 6,000 flats altogether, some of them social housing, some at affordable rents, and others at market rents or for sale.
The buildings will have green rooves and/or solar panels, and they will be close to energy-neutral – meaning they produce as much energy as they consume.
Provision will be made for bats and swifts, and habitat created for songbirds, hedgehogs and butterflies.
Video
This is a promotional video for Merwede:
NRC Article
Merwede is discussed in an article on nrc.com. They quote Marco Broekman, who works for the developers of the site.
‘I give lots of presentations about it. There are always discussions, and there are always people who don’t believe in the concept. They say it is wishful thinking, Utopia, and it can’t work. I need a car. I have to take my son to football every weekend – as though that’s not possible with a car club car.’
marco broekman
A mobility business will be set up, and it will run four underground parkings at the edge of the district. Residents will be able to rent a car parking space there for €200 per month, but not all residents: there are only enough parking spaces for 1 in 4 households.
A neighbouring district, Rivierenwijk, brought in paid parking, to prevent an anticipated influx of vehicles from Merwede residents.
The mobility business will offer hire deals via an app on bikes, e-bikes, e-cargo bikes, e-high speed bikes, and electric cars and vans.
The electric cars will also function as batteries, storing electricity generated by the buildings in Merwede.
15 Minute Neighbourhood
Residents will not be dependent on transport for their everyday needs.
There are to be two supermarkets, cafés, childcare facilities, schools, a sports centre, and a health centre and pharmacy – all in the Merwede neighbourhood.
Critics
It’s worth noting that not everyone is enthusiastic about Merwede. At a council meeting in 2021, an opposition politician called Cees Bos spoke of ‘Calcutta on the Merwede, the arse of the Netherlands.’