Common Woods - Amersfoort
A new definition of living in harmony with nature
Nestled in the historic Nimmerdorbos in Amersfoort, Common Woods redefines what it means to live well. What was once a horse riding school site, contributing to significant nitrogen emissions and limited nature, has been transformed into a nature-inclusive neighborhood that absorbs more nitrogen than it emits. This socially inclusive community features 56 circular homes, turning a once polluted and unattractive location into a vibrant space for all. Welcome to Common Woods.
“The abundance of greenery – who will pay for this is still too often the question. Common Woods is taking steps in a new sustainable direction.”
A green living environment
The idea that a green living environment benefits our well-being is gaining wider acceptance, though it’s difficult to quantify in concrete terms. This uncertainty leaves open the question of who should cover the costs. Rebel Group conducted research on the benefits of greenery and developed a set of tools for a different approach to funding the green spaces.
In Amersfoort, this new, fully nature-inclusive neighborhood will soon be completed. Nature-inclusive residential areas are an important means of creating a CO₂-neutral and climate-resilient municipality with rich biodiversity. DELVA was not only the urban planner but also the landscape architect who designed the outdoor spaces for the new neighborhood. At the heart of the design is a balanced ecosystem that fosters biodiversity, using only native plants and ensuring the soil is as permeable as possible.
“A new definition of living in harmony with nature.“
Nature plan takes the lead
The management of greenery in Common Woods, both in private gardens and public spaces, will be handled by the residents. They will follow a pre-established nature plan, with DELVA also having input on what can be planted in each individual garden. Maintenance and funding will be organized collectively through the homeowners’ association (VVE), under DELVA’s leadership.
In this case, future residents are investing in the greenery of their neighborhood. However, in practice, financing nature in residential areas proves to be a challenge. According to Rebel Group, there are three main reasons for this. First, it is unclear what ecosystem services actually yield, causing nature to be seen as a cost rather than a benefit. Second, it is not clear who exactly benefits from nature. Finally, the beneficiaries do not have insight into these benefits and, as a result, are not asked to co-invest in nature initiatives. In some cases, it’s not feasible to increase housing prices by the full amount of the green investment, particularly in social housing. Therefore, it becomes important to know who else might be able to invest.
How to organize the financing of greenery?
How can the funding and financing of greenery be organized differently to encourage greener residential neighborhoods? “We have mapped the value of greenery and identified several tools to restructure the financing of green spaces,” explains Lianne van Ruijven of Rebel Group. “We presented this approach to the municipality and the goal is also to spread this knowledge more widely.”
The Common Woods neighborhood will consist of 56 sustainable, energy-efficient wooden homes and will be developed on a former riding school site at the edge of the Nimmerdor estate. “Ecologically, it’s a poor area,” says Van Ruijven. “The goal of the neighborhood is also to expand the adjacent nature reserve.”
Increasing property value
Greenery adds value. The impact varies depending on the measure. “By replacing asphalt or paving stones with permeable surfaces, you’ll have less water damage. Trees absorb nitrogen, but they also reduce stress, and it has been proven that people become less sick in the presence of trees. Employers benefit from this as well. Additionally, homes in green environments are worth more.”
For the measures mentioned above, the value in monetary terms could be calculated quite concretely, although assumptions were made. For some benefits, such as the improvement of biodiversity, it’s harder to quantify the financial return. “Improving biodiversity in this area is a primary goal. An ecologist is conducting a baseline measurement of the area. Additionally, target species are being identified, and measures will be determined to encourage those species. The ecologist will continue to monitor the area in the future, so we can demonstrate the impact of these actions.” The value of biodiversity can be effectively visualized, and this has been done for Common Woods.
In addition to biodiversity, social cohesion is another area that doesn’t have a direct monetary value attached. “The neighborhood is actively working on this, for example, through a community fund and a vegetable garden. In the future, we want to explore how we can quantify this aspect in numerical terms.”
“A new living environment for both people and animals that expands the adjacent nature reserve.”
Other parties benefit as well
The research from Rebel Group also shows that the benefits of greenery extend beyond the residents. Parties such as employers, insurers, and the government also benefit from a green and nature-inclusive neighborhood. It would only be fair for these parties to invest as well. Currently, however, this is not the case; the future residents of Common Woods are investing in both the development and the maintenance of the green spaces. Nevertheless, this has not hindered the sale of the homes—all the homes and their surrounding landscape have already been sold.
There are already experiments underway to redirect funding streams at local governments. For example, in The Hague, a pilot program is being carried out where a budget previously allocated to “BOAs” (special enforcement officers) is now being invested in greenery, because a green neighborhood is generally safer, requiring less enforcement and supervision. These and other tools (see below) have emerged from discussions with the municipality and other parties following Rebel Group’s research.
The aim is to shift the perspective of greenery from being seen as a cost to being recognized as something that generates tangible benefits for society as a whole.
8 instruments to organize the financing of green differently
- Green as a service In this model, the gardener (or another party) remains the owner of the greenery and provides the ecosystem services of the greenery as a service to the surrounding area.
- Municipalities and the neutral footprint When a project (such as Common Woods) creates a surplus of ecology, it could be compensated for because it enables other types of development to take place.
- Redirecting funding streams within municipalities Money that would otherwise be spent on things like water retention or security due to the presence of greenery can instead be invested in the greenery itself.
- Banks financing greenery Banks are willing to finance greenery when it reduces flood risk for real estate.
- Green as an asset Cataloging and describing the green infrastructure, combined with visualizing the effects of greenery and quantifying green measures, helps make the case for financing greenery as an asset.
- Companies/Governments pay for green to offset CO₂ emissions Businesses and governments can invest in greenery as a way to compensate for their CO₂ emissions.
- Innovation in Agriculture The Schevichhoven farm in Leersum transformed its intensive livestock operation into 40 hectares of nature-inclusive arable farming. Over time, this generates multiple times the income of conventional farming and creates direct value for the local area through improved land quality and sustainable employment opportunities.
- Fund for avoided water damage or healthcare costs for insurers Greenery can reduce the risk of water damage or healthcare costs, which insurers can use as a basis for funding green initiatives.
Source: De waarde van groen, een onderzoek naar het bekostigen en financieren van groene infrastructuur in stedelijke ontwikkeling.
Follow the construction of Common Woods live
- Location
- Amersfoort
- Status
- In uitvoering
- Client
- Holistic Development
- Together with
- Space&Matter, Karbouw, SmitsRinsma, Habitoo, VIC Landscapes