Core qualities under pressure

Online shopping has led to fewer shoppers everywhere in the Netherlands. This is also evident in Kerkrade, where vacant retail properties are leading to a deterioration in the appearance of the town. In addition, car use has increased significantly, something for which historic streets and areas in particular are not equipped.

Keeping different neighborhoods vibrant

In recent years, the focus has been on strengthening the city center, without neglecting the neighborhoods. This has paid off. Social facilities such as Vie, the Hub, and Het Martin Buber are of great value to the entire city and form a good basis for further development. At present, Kerkrade as a whole scores well in terms of facilities and proximity to amenities. However, a negative trend is visible: in more and more places, we are seeing amenities in neighborhoods, such as supermarkets, disappearing or leaving. This often results in vacant properties. The percentage of vacant retail properties is now relatively high compared to the national average (11.8% compared to 8.3%). Vacant buildings are being converted into homes. This serves social safety and housing goals, but also results in an increasingly lower level of amenities. The distance to amenities is increasing, and an opportunity is being missed to create green and high-quality public space within the neighborhoods. Moreover, we have seen, particularly in ribbon developments, that conversion to housing often leads to room rentals. This is an undesirable development, as it results in poor-quality housing for vulnerable groups. The municipality is addressing this with the 'Kerkrade Urban Area Umbrella Plan' and the 'Kerkrade Housing Division' policy rule, which prohibits new room rentals.

Alternatives to the car

Cars are widely used in Kerkrade. This is partly due to the large differences in elevation within the city. We use cars to commute to work, to do our shopping, and to take the children to school. The dominance of cars is also clearly visible in public spaces. Many squares and residential streets are used as parking spaces. In addition to car use, people also walk a lot in Kerkrade. More than 34% of journeys in Kerkrade are made on foot. In many places, the structure of the traffic space leaves little room for pedestrians, the sidewalks are narrow, and crossing the street is not safe everywhere.

Bicycle use in Kerkrade is very low, with only 7%, the municipality scores lowest in the whole of the Netherlands. There is little space for cyclists on many roads. This is taken into account when redesigning roads. For example, bicycle streets have recently been constructed (the Gravenweg in Kerkrade-Noord and the Kaalheidersteenweg in Kerkrade-West).

In the narrow, historic streets, car traffic has become too heavy for the space available.
These streets were once the liveliest places in the municipality, but that liveliness has now greatly diminished. Traffic conditions are unsafe, there is little space for greenery, and the quality of life has deteriorated, causing beautiful old buildings to fall into disrepair. Many of these historic buildings have no cultural-historical value and are not protected, which makes them even more vulnerable.

Public transport is not an attractive alternative, mainly due to long travel times, price, and reliability. Cycling is also unpopular. Given the differences in elevation, cycling without assistance is very difficult, the bike paths are not all safe or attractive, and it is difficult to reach work or school. Vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, e-bike and moped riders) account for approximately 55% of traffic casualties, which is relatively high. The infrastructure for this group must be made safer in order to prevent such accidents in the future. The bike-sharing program offers opportunities to make electric bikes accessible to a larger group of people. A safe (cycling) infrastructure is important in this regard.

Strengthening social structures

Kerkrade has a strong community life, which often determines the culture and liveliness of different neighborhoods. Associations form the basis for a good social structure. But here too, the pressure is being felt. There is a trend towards declining membership, limited accommodation options, high energy costs, and difficulties in recruiting new volunteers. Sports and leisure activities are increasingly taking place informally. We need to take this into account in terms of space, but at the same time, a strong community life also contributes to the livability of the area.
 

Over the past century, Kerkrade has experienced both population growth and decline. It has also seen many different nationalities and cultures, many of whose families still live in Kerkrade and the Parkstad region. Kerkrade currently has a relatively old population structure and a rapidly aging population (increase in the number of people aged 65+), which will peak in ten years. This calls for a different design of public spaces, housing, and facilities. In doing so, we are not only looking at the needs of the elderly today, but also at the new and expected younger population (newcomers) in the future.

Beyond the peak of aging

Kerkrade is ahead of the rest of the Netherlands in terms of aging. Looking at the longer term, the tipping point of aging is approaching, with the peak expected to be reached in 2035. Older people are living at home longer, but there are few options for housing and relocation. When we look at old age from a health perspective, a worrying picture emerges. Life expectancy in Kerkrade is lower than the Dutch or South Limburg average (78.5 years compared to 81.5 years). Furthermore, the national average for good health is 62.4 years, while in Kerkrade it is only 53.1 years. The population of Kerkrade is living shorter lives and experiencing health problems much earlier.

Variety and balance in the housing supply

A number of neighborhoods in Kerkrade have an overly one-sided housing supply. This may involve mainly rental or mainly owner-occupied properties, or too many homes in the same segment. Furthermore, the proportion of housing association properties (32%) and affordable rentals in the private sector (14%) is remarkably high. In addition, Kerkrade still has a high vacancy rate for homes, namely 4.1%. In order to maintain quality of life and make good use of all available space, we need to carefully consider how we can reduce and prevent vacancy.

Making the stock more sustainable

There are significant contrasts in the quality of housing and the living environment in different neighborhoods. Making the housing stock more sustainable is an important issue in the Parkstad region, as the stock is outdated in many places. In addition, some of the residents of Kerkrade are affected by energy poverty. It is therefore important (and urgent) to work on making homes energy efficient, making sustainable energy available, and looking smartly at the reuse of raw materials released during demolition/restructuring. The municipalities in the Parkstad Limburg urban region have therefore set themselves the goals of being energy neutral by 2040 and fully circular by 2050.

Healthy neighborhoods

Sustainability and insulation are not only important for energy consumption, but also for better resistance to heat stress, which can occur more frequently during long periods of hot weather. Young children, the elderly, and the chronically ill are particularly vulnerable during such periods. In large parts of the city center, the working areas, and the residential neighborhoods of Bleijerheide, Gracht, Heilust, Holz, and Spekholzerheide, heat stress is already occurring on hot summer days due to the extensive paving, buildings, and limited tree canopy coverage.

Autonomy for children

Throughout the Netherlands, children's independence and freedom of movement have been declining in recent years. Even for the short journey to school, cars are increasingly being used. This 'backseat generation' is losing its autonomy and the associated experience of happiness. In the eastern part of Kerkrade, six school locations will be reduced to three. This offers opportunities to improve accessibility for the youngest children. At the same time, however, the distance to school may become longer. Currently, the average distance to a primary school in Kerkrade is 600 meters, which is lower than the national average of 700 meters. A longer travel time may lead to different mobility choices.

Another point of attention is that Kerkrade has a relatively large number of "target group children," and the care issues are already considerable even among very young children. These issues often arise from poverty and low basic skills in the family. Twenty percent of children in Kerkrade grow up in families living around the poverty line. Low literacy is also common, affecting around 25% of the population in Kerkrade. These issues have a major impact on their health, educational opportunities, and social well-being.

Kerkrade has many jobs to offer. It is expected that in the future, these will increasingly be oriented towards the logistics sector. Companies and employees are no longer directly connected to the city. From working in the city center to working areas that are turned away from residential areas.

More accessible and pleasant

Investments in infrastructure, including the Buitenring Parkstad (N300), have contributed to the improved development of various business parks. Vacancy rates for plots have fallen sharply, the restructuring of areas has accelerated, and employment has grown. Nevertheless, the business parks are far from 'finished'. There are major challenges ahead in terms of improving the quality of the work locations, dealing carefully with space that becomes available at work locations, and accommodating important transitions. Many work areas are now isolated from the city and the surrounding area. Connections between the city and work areas are limited (especially by bicycle, public transport, or on foot). And when greening does occur, it is mainly to shield work areas from the city. While 37% of people in the Netherlands cycle to work or school, in Kerkrade this figure is only 18%.

The border location has a downside. In the more remote areas, there is undermining and drug-related crime. Kerkrade ranks second on the 'Underworld Map', an underworld that likes to make use of abandoned, quiet places in the municipality. It is necessary to address the feeling of a 'no-go area'.

There are opportunities to make the working areas more attractive for both employees and employers. These opportunities are also recognized by the business community itself, such as the Medtech sector (Medlands), which is creating space on its own premises for attractive locations, facilities, and good and safe connections for pedestrians and cyclists to Eygelshoven train station and the Parkstad route, respectively. The Julia business park is also relatively close to theMarkt train station, where the tri-country train (Liège-Maastricht-Heerlen-Aachen) stops.

Jobs per hectare

Kerkrade is struggling with an increase in the number of early school leavers, and because of the 'poverty trap', it is sometimes not worthwhile to go to work; there is no financial incentive to find work in that situation. An important step in the right direction is to think even more carefully about the type of activity that can be given a (costly) place in the work areas. In this regard, the municipality already applies the principle of giving preference to 'many jobs per hectare'. The type of employment (low, medium, and high-skilled jobs) is also important.

Extra attention can be paid to the environmental impact (noise pollution and air pollution) caused by businesses or transport. Especially in areas along access roads to and from industrial estates, the basics are not always in order.

Making room for the energy transition

Grid congestion is a nationwide problem that hinders the establishment of new businesses or social facilities. Grid congestion is also present in Kerkrade. New businesses, as well as facilities such as schools and healthcare institutions, sometimes have to wait years for a connection to the electricity grid. Investment in the energy network is needed, which will also have an impact on the area. For example, the network will need to be upgraded in the coming decades. At least 100 small transformer stations and at least three medium-voltage stations will be needed, including an expansion of the Terwinselen high-voltage station. In the short term, energy hubs in business parks, such as the Dentgenbach business park, are also being considered.

When restructuring industrial estates, it is important to avoid unnecessary network loops for power. By focusing on targeted medium-voltage rings with an additional substation, it is possible to work on creating "energy islands." These rings then ensure less space is used underground.

The substrate in focus

When working on the environment, we often only look at the visible, above-ground elements, but the subsurface must also be taken into account. The Basic Subsurface Register (BRO) provides insight into the use of space in the subsurface. It is becoming increasingly crowded with pipes (sewers), cables (data), and storage (waste). And more and more space is needed for the energy transition (heat network and additional network cables), for housing construction or for planting greenery. The municipality takes into account the interests of chain partners such as Enexis, WML, and Gasunie to prevent conflicts. An example of this is the construction of a heat network in relation to drinking water pipes.

Within Kerkrade there are historic and industrial mine shafts, and in part of Kerkrade there are shallow mine tunnels and shallow historic and industrial excavations. A zone has been designated around these shafts within which measures must be taken, where possible, to ensure the stability of the mine shaft, the subsoil, and any new building structures. The aim is to stabilize as many of the found and accessible historic mine shafts as possible in a sustainable manner. Approximately two mine shafts are remediated each year, and this remediation is expected to continue for another 20 years. The potential consequences of former coal mining have been classified into categories ranging from EK1 (relatively high probability of occurrence), EK2 (relatively average probability) to EK3 (relatively low probability). EK stands for 'Einwirkungsklasse', comparable to the Dutch 'gevolgklasse' (impact class). When drawing up the environmental plan, an investigation will be conducted to determine which additional rules are necessary for each category.

Nature in Kerkrade makes a valuable contribution to the quality of life and living environment in the municipality. Unfortunately, we are seeing that trends such as climate change and pressure on space from urban functions (
) mean that preserving the countryside cannot be taken for granted. Moreover, nature is not available to the same extent within the urban area. There is a fairly clear boundary between red and green.

Bringing back and connecting nature

The landscape sometimes feels further away than it actually is. The landscapes are fragmented by intervening buildings and roads. Stream valleys and dry valleys have become fossilized over time and incorporated into the built-up area. This limits the diversity of species (animals and plants), but also restricts recreation and tourism. Not all residents are aware that the municipality has unique landscapes. The construction of the Parkstad Route for cyclists and a network of junctions for walkers offer opportunities in this regard. These routes make it even easier to connect both the green areas and the tourist attractions in the Parkstad region and across the border, but also in Kerkrade itself. Another opportunity is to offer views of the stream valleys. Many of these views have now been built over, and as a result, the view has disappeared in many places. It may be possible to create space here and there to experience the countryside from the higher plateau.

Space pressure

Only one-third of the municipality's land area is rural. That is why current policy already prohibits new red (urban) developments in rural areas. However, pressure on space in these areas remains and will increase, especially now that the Parkstad region and the municipality are once again looking closely at growth opportunities after a period of restructuring. Even if the area itself remains intact, additional residents and visitors will also bring additional recreational pressure. In various places, nature is vulnerable, such as in spring areas and hillside forests, and the protection of wild plants and animals is paramount. This must be taken into account when constructing walking trails.

Flood risk

The consequences of climate change are becoming increasingly visible. We are facing extreme weather conditions more often. Ecosystems need to be better equipped to deal with this. At present, hillside forests are particularly vulnerable. They cannot withstand large fluctuations in groundwater levels caused by dry periods. The Worm river is also susceptible to flooding. This border river carries a lot of water from the urban area of Aachen to
. During heavy rainfall, the Worm quickly fills up and problems arise at points where the Anselderbeek can no longer drain into the Worm, such as at Eygelshoven. The Cranenweyer reservoir is a crucial link in the water management system there.

Unique approach to rainwater

The location of the residential area on the higher plateaus with stream valleys and sometimes large differences in altitude provides ample opportunity for disconnecting rainwater from the sewage system. In doing so, the preferred order of water management (quality and quantity) is applied. For water quality: keeping clean, separating, and purifying; and for water quantity: reusing water, retaining (infiltrating), storing, and discharging.
Rainwater therefore flows naturally in various places to the lower-lying catchment basins and ultimately to the streams. This is a system that is unique to the Netherlands. Due to more extreme weather as a result of climate change, additional measures are needed. In order for the system to continue to function properly in the future, rainwater will have to be retained for longer on the plateaus, which are largely built up and paved. In the best case scenario, every raindrop should be able to penetrate the soil.