🏘️ Strategic Environmental Assessment of Twente Conurbation Plan: Space for Homes and Businesses

🚨Problem

The Twente Conurbation Plan (TC Plan) for the Hengelo and Enschede regions proposed to (1) build 13,000 new houses to accommodate population growth, and (2) create 300 hectares of land for businesses and industries to boost economic development. The plan emphasises selecting optimal locations for housing and industrial zones while maintaining a balance between urban expansion and the preservation of cultural, historical, and ecological values, yet such large-scale development poses challenges related to land use, environmental impact, and social considerations.

🎯Aims

Having a good organisation and layout of the living space in the Twente region is crucial to reach the highest spatial quality of the living environment.

1. To maintain and improve the living and working environment;

2. To maintain the diversity between the countryside and the city;

3. To discourage the fragmentation of rural areas by urbanisation;

4. To establish an integrated public transport network to reduce the mobility of cars;

5. To strengthen the urban functions of the region, particularly of the larger cities within the Twente conurbation area.

🛠️ Approach

• Criteria tree for the identification and organisation of the problem into a structured framework, subdivided into five thematic groups of factors and constraints.

• Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) to translate diverse spatial datasets into standardised criteria to enable suitability scoring.

• Composed suitability maps to identify areas with high/low suitability, for "Equal Vision" and "Most Environmentally Friendly Vision".

• Optimal site selection to identify the best locations for housing and industrial zones development.

✅Success

• Six alternative locations of a total of 276 ha for housing, three in each Enschede and Hengelo.

• Comparative analysis in determining the relative suitability of alternative locations for housing construction.

• An area of 1,234 ha for industrial development away from the city centres to minimise urban disruption.

🪞 Reflection

Mitigation measures to prevent, reduce, and offset the adverse impacts associated with various environmental and social issues:

• Buffer areas to minimise contamination risks, control erosion, and safeguard water quality.

• Buffer zones to preserve heritage sites, maintain visual-spatial integrity, and enhance the aesthetic value of the area.

• Protected areas for ecological measures to prioritise habitat conservation, biodiversity protection, and the restoration of natural systems.

• Quality of life initiatives to reduce noise, improve air quality, and promote access to green spaces for enhancing community well-being.

• Mobility-related measures to target sustainable transport solutions, reducing traffic congestion, and promoting active transportation options.