Intake and Environmental Committee

Temporary suspension of (almost all) housing construction applications

Until January 1, 2027, the municipality will only Appeltern new housing development applications in Appeltern . There are currently enough homes planned to meet local demand. No plans Appeltern currently in the works in Appeltern . Therefore Appeltern there is room for new housing development applications in Appeltern .

For more information, see " Extension of the temporary moratorium on new housing construction applications."

You can, however, submit other types of spatial planning requests.

Other types of spatial requests:

  • Recreation & Tourism
  • Bustle
  • Education
  • Requests under the VAB policy
  • Conversion of (agricultural) farmhouses into regular residential homes
  • Care-for-one-another homes and informal care homes
  • Residential Care Initiatives
  • Home Division
  • Housing for international employees
  • Crisis situations
  • Requests in which the municipality has taken an active role

What is the intake and environmental assessment?

The municipality of West Maas en Waal uses the intake and area consultation table to assess spatial requests thoroughly and on time.

We’ll work with you and our advisors to:

  • whether your request is consistent with the policy and the environmental vision (the desirability)
  • whether your request is feasible and fits well into the environment (feasibility)

This way, you’ll get a quick answer and avoid submitting a request that has little chance of success. That saves you time and money.

Do you have plans for new construction, an expansion, or increased electricity usage?

Please contact Liander, the grid operator, as soon as possible. The power grid in the region is reaching capacity in many areas. As a result, a new connection or expansion is not always immediately available. By contacting Liander early on, you’ll gain insight sooner into available capacity, technical possibilities, and the expected turnaround time.
Contacting Liander early helps you better assess what’s possible.

More information about connections

Here's how we process your request

Would you like to make a change to the physical environment that isn’t covered by the environmental plan? For example, expanding a business or starting a campground? If so, you can submit a request to the municipality.

We review your request in 6 steps. This way, you’ll quickly get a clear picture of what’s possible, what’s needed, and how to proceed.

Want to learn more first? Check out the step-by-step guide below or the list of frequently asked questions about Housing Development Requests, as well as the Intake and Community Roundtable.

Step-by-step guide

Step 1: Submit your request

Please submit your request using our application form. Be sure to include all the requested information. Only then can we review your request.

What information do we need to make an accurate assessment?

  • Description of the request
    • Please provide a clear description of your request. For example: a restaurant or a business location.
    • Please explain the purpose of this request and why you are making it.
    • Please indicate the expected timeline for your request.
  • Location information
    • Please provide the address and cadastral information for the location.
    • Map a site plan or Map showing the location.
  • General rationale
    • Describe how your request aligns with current policies or regulations. Consider the (temporary) environmental plan or the environmental vision.
    • Please let us know in advance if you anticipate any challenges or obstacles, and what opportunities you see.
  • Participation
    • Please explain whether and how you plan to involve the community in your request.
  • Visuals (optional)
    • Do you have a rough sketch, drawing, or visualization? Please attach it. This will help us fully understand your request.

Step 2: We assess the request for complexity

After you submit your request, we will check to see if it is complete. If your request is incomplete, we will not process it.

Simple or complex request

If the request is complete, we will determine whether it is a simple or complex request. This depends on the content of your request.

  • We forward simple requests to the Rivierenland Environmental Agency (ODR). They will then contact you regarding the next steps. They will treat your request as a preliminary consultation.
    Please note: The following steps no longer apply to your request.
  • We handle complex requests through the municipality’s intake and community coordination committee.

We can only make this assessment if your request is complete and has been submitted in the proper manner.

Step 3: Assessing suitability during the intake interview

Is your request complex? If so, we will discuss it during our internal meeting: the intake meeting. We will assess whether your request is appropriate. This means:

  • Does this align with the municipality's vision?
  • Is this in line with our policy and our goals for the area?
  • Is it promising enough to pursue further?

Feedback via email

After the meeting, you will receive feedback via email. It will include the following:

  • Whether your request is appropriate
  • Key considerations for the further development
  • What procedure you need to follow and who your contact person is

Step 4: Implementation and Participation

Is your request appropriate? If so, we will schedule an initial meeting with you. You will be assigned a dedicated contact person at the municipality.

What will we discuss during the initial consultation?

During the initial consultation, we will discuss the next steps:
• Further development of your request
• Involving the community in your plans (participation)
• Additional research (if necessary)

Your dedicated contact person will guide you through this process and answer any questions you may have.

Step 5: Review at the environmental roundtable

Have you finalized your proposal? And have you completed the participation process? If so, you can submit it to the community roundtable. This will be done in consultation with your contact person.

Review by the Environmental Committee

The environmental committee includes various advisors from within and outside the municipality, such as representatives from the Rivierenland Environmental Agency and the Gelderland-Zuid Safety Region.

Together, they will assess whether your request is feasible. Among other things, they will consider:

  • the impact on traffic, the landscape, and water
  • whether it fits in with the surroundings
  • whether you have participated sufficiently

You are welcome to join the discussion table to explain your request. You will then have the opportunity to provide further details and answer or ask questions.

If the Environmental Committee determines that your request is feasible, you can then develop it further into a formal application.

Step 6: The formal application

Is your request feasible? If so, you can begin the official procedure. This means you need to submit a formal application.

There is a good chance that your request will be approved. This is because the review by the environmental committee was favorable.

Submit the formal application

How you submit your application depends on the nature of your request. We will let you know which process applies to you:

  • through the Environmental Permit Portal (permit application)
  • by submitting a written request to amend the environmental plan

After that, we will begin the formal procedure.

Submit a request for the intake session

Please contact us if you have any questions

Do you have any questions about the process? Please call Ieke Kusters, secretary, or Amy Magnée, chair, at 14 0487. Or email your questions to intake@westmaasenwaal.nl. 

Good to know

If you submit your request to the intake and community consultation panel, you will get an idea of how viable your initiative is. The outcome of the community consultation is a recommendation regarding the feasibility of your plan. This is not a decision against which you can file an objection or appeal. Furthermore, the outcome of the community consultation does not confer any rights or obligations in the subsequent process. A positive recommendation is no guarantee that the permit will be granted or that the environmental plan amendment will be implemented.

Useful information

Are you thinking about submitting a plan? We will review your plan to ensure it meets certain quality requirements. Below are some helpful attachments that can assist you in preparing your application.

Please make sure to submit a complete request. That way, we can quickly assess what’s possible. Not sure if you have everything? Please contact Ieke Kusters at 14 0487 or intake@westmaasenwaal.nl 

Did you find what you were looking for?