A large majority of the Lower House is in favour of more direction on the construction of large distribution centres. On Tuesday, a motion against 'withering and cluttering' by MPs Van Esch (Party for the Animals) and Simons (BIJ1) was adopted.
The MPs asked the government to prioritise nature, landscape and housing. With 138 votes in favour, the motion was widely adopted. The current regulations, laid down in the National Environmental Vision (NOVI), should be updated, according to Van Esch and Simons.
Moreover, the NOVI is only directive and therefore offers no certainty that so-called withering and cluttering will be countered. In their motion, the MPs argued for regulations that force a more efficient use of existing block boxes. Whereas some parties had previously argued for a total ban on new distribution centres, a parliamentary majority felt that was going too far.
Following the motion, the Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning, Hugo de Jonge, will examine with provinces how the national government can become more directing.
