From elections to permit: Real estate trends in the wake of the municipal elections

Over the coming months, negotiations on coalition agreements and the formation of new municipal councils will take place in meeting rooms across the Netherlands. Plans are being drawn up for parking, waste management and education, but certainly also for the development of business parks, the granting of planning permission and housing construction. Local authorities are taking on an increasingly prominent role in this: active land policy is the rule rather than the exception. As a result, local authorities are becoming ever more important in the field of lobbying.

Now that negotiations have begun and the first collaborations are becoming apparent, the initial trends in local authority policy for the property sector are emerging. But what does this mean in concrete terms? What do we see in the election manifestos of the parties currently at the negotiating table, and how might this translate into municipal policy over the next four years? Based on a comparison of the 2022 and 2026 election manifestos, and an analysis of the most likely coalitions, a number of trends stand out, which they outline for Vastgoedjournaal. The conclusion? The emphasis on housing construction, affordability and the growing role of government and regulation is forcing companies to adopt a different lobbying strategy, focused on collaboration as an implementing partner for public objectives. The greatest influence lies in the concrete implementation: choices regarding programming, segments and standards, where parties with strong business cases can make a difference.

At the same time, local tailoring is becoming increasingly important due to growing differences between cities. Successful strategies align with the profile of the city and neighbourhood and link housing construction to broader economic development.

Ultimately, timing and feasibility are decisive: parties that get involved early and come up with viable solutions have the most influence, particularly in a context of limited capacity and resources.

Want to know more? Read the full article here: From election to planning permission: Van verkiezing naar vergunning: Trends voor vastgoed na de gemeenteraadsverkiezingen – Vastgoedjournaal.nl