Background Ground
Is it possible to move farmers to Flevoland?
'Have farmers from nature reserves move to Flevoland.' According to the Telegraaf of 17 November, the forming parties want to entice livestock farmers who are located in vulnerable nature areas to relocate their company to Flevoland. Does that idea have any chance of success or is the plan just another test balloon in the nitrogen discussion?
About 22% of the land (31.000 hectares) in Flevoland is owned by the State (the Rijksvastgoedbedrijf, RVB). "The parties therefore see a solution in the province for both the housing shortage and the nitrogen crisis," De Telegraaf reported on the basis of sources. Farmers from vulnerable nature areas can relocate and continue their business in Flevoland and there is room for the construction of additional homes.
It sounds like a simple plan, the ground is there, and with a little shove you can solve two problems at once. The idea is not new either. Exactly 2 years ago, Kees Maas, director of DCA Group, signed the plan here Boerenbusiness already out. Calling around experts shows that there are quite a few snags to the plan in the practical implementation.
Land is already in use
First of all, the RVB's land is not lying fallow waiting for a new user. The vast majority of land is issued on regular, long-term or liberalized leases. ERF temporarily manages approximately 1.700 hectares of land and the Central Government Real Estate Agency has issued just under 3.600 hectares on deregulated lease in the past five years. This brings the total available in the short term or, according to a rough estimate, to approximately 5.300 hectares. This can be further increased by expiring long lease contracts or farmers stopping, freeing up regular leased land.
That is a considerable area, but they are not sitting still in Flevoland either. There are various plans for housing, industry and nature. All these plans (in part) take up existing agricultural land. For example, the construction of Oosterwold, a new residential area near Almere, requires 4.300 hectares and there are many more examples. Some of the farmers - whether or not leaseholders of the Central Government Real Estate Company - who are confronted with such plans, want to continue with their business and aim for a company relocation. This already means that an important part of the free ground can be used up.
High land prices
The relatively high land prices in Flevoland also do not exactly help with relocation. For a farmer who is bought out for housing or industry and receives compensation well above the agricultural value, this is not the biggest stumbling block. But for a farmer who has to move for nature and who only gets the agricultural value - and who also lives in a part of the Netherlands where land prices are a lot lower, the picture looks very different. It is financially difficult for that group to move to Flevoland. Relocation to another region with lower land prices is then more obvious.
Nitrogen emissions remain
If we assume that the new cabinet succeeds in making a large part of the land of the Central Government Real Estate Agency available - for example with a generous stoppage scheme - and makes it financially attractive for the companies that have to be relocated, there is still a long way to go. hot topic, namely the reason for the displacement: nitrogen.
Although Flevoland is known as an agricultural province, the necessary Natura 2000 areas can also be found here. Think, for example, of the Oostvaardersplassen, the Lepelaarplassen, the Markermeer and the Randmeren. Companies that emit a lot of nitrogen at their current location do so if they continue with the same activities, most likely also at a different location. Moving from one nitrogen-sensitive nature reserve to another is not a solution in that case. Suppose, for example, that a buffer of 10 or 15 kilometers has to be maintained until a Natura 2000 area. Then the available space in Flevoland suddenly becomes a lot smaller.
But there is more to a company relocation than just the financial or legal aspect. Since the issue of the polders, the area has acted as a magnet for some of the Dutch farmers. However, there are a thousand and one reasons why a farmer would not want to go to Flevoland. The most important question, which remains unanswered: is the group of farmers who are called peak loaders in The Hague even waiting for a company in Flevoland?
Jurphaas Lugtenburg
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