The area Amsterdam New West was known as a problem area. Unemployment was high and the income of many residents was regarded low. 50% of the population consisted of first or second generation ethnic minorities.

Covered area:

The district had become a deprived area and had fallen in the hierarchy of the housing market. However, the area had enormous economic potential since it is located close to Schiphol Airport and the Zuidas Business Centre.

The purpose of the programme is to improve the living conditions of the inhabitants of the area by physical means like the demolition, development and renovation of the housing stock but also by the creation diversity in the housing stock and by the modernisation and expansion of education and health services. The project also includes a social-economic programme which is partly aimed at individual empowerment of the inhabitants and partly aimed at better ways of living together.

Successful measures:

Less successful measures:

Physical measures:

Social and economical measures:

Inhabitants of New West were represented by three different inhabitants ’ associations. One of these three associations represents the migrant population of New West. The involvement of all three associations is aimed at informing and consulting the population of New West. Participation evenings and other events are regularly organized to ensure that the voices of the inhabitants are being heard.

During the first project phases, physical strategies were given priority. Later on, a policy shift towards a more integrated approach took place. The social and economic pillars of the programme were enhanced. However, the in-between evaluation of the project in 2005, showed that only the physical pillar was on scheme with the original planning. The economic and social pillars made less progress than was headed for in the original project plan, due to financial problems.

Physical measures are on scheme to be completed in 2015. Realisation of social facilities is in progress: broad schools and health centres have been created.

The living standards of inhabitants in the area has not improved. The social-economic position of inhabitants is still lagging behind compared to inhabitants in other areas in Amsterdam. The creation of office buildings has been called to an end because of economic recession. Furthermore, inhabitants do not profit from the creation of extra employment possibilities in the area.

When the project was designed in 2001, economy was booming. There was a high demand for new office space. Creation of new office buildings was designated an important component of the project, since the benefits out of this would provide funding for other parts of the project. However, since the economic tide has turned, the creation of offices was called to an end. The creation of new office space was no longer profitable. The other pillars in the project suffered from the lack of funding that was caused hereby; especially the economic and social results are disappointing in conforming the expectations people had in 2001.

Factors which contributed to the success of the project:

Factors that limited the success of the project:

Inhabitants of New West

Bureau Parkstad
Jeroen van der Velden (Assistant to the Programme Manager), tel. +31 20 3463072

01/02/2001

case

Urban Policy

Urban environment