Environment and Planning Act and the Building Quality Assurance Act postponed
April 28, 2020
Minister Kajsa Ollongren of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations
At the beginning of this month (April 2020) the Environment and Housing Ministry announced that the intended introduction of the Environment and Planning Act, scheduled for 1 January 2021, has been postponed. Given that the Environment and Planning Act and the Building Quality Assurance Act (Wkb) have a strong underlying relationship, the introduction of the Wkb is being postponed. Says Minister Kajsa Ollongren of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. In a letter to the House of Representatives, Ms Ollongren writes that the aim is to inform the House, before the summer of 2020, about a definitive introduction date.
Why postponement?
Besides the postponement of the Environment and Planning Act, an additional reason for shifting the Wkb commencement date (1 January 2021) is that building parties are changing their priorities because of the corona crisis. Additionally, after the Corona crisis subsides they will need a reasonable amount of time in which to gain sufficient experience through and with the relevant pilot projects.
What has undoubtedly also played a role is that the number of Wkb pilot projects is lagging behind the quantity envisaged. In the Administrative Agreement that the minister has concluded with the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), it is agreed that 10% of the building projects in Consequence Class 1 (CC1), must be performed as a pilot project. The coming period creates opportunities for catching up and leaves adequate time to look for diversity in projects.
" The Cabinet will continue in full with the preparatory activities necessary for the successful introduction of the Wkb. "
Continuing…
The Cabinet will continue in full with the preparatory activities necessary for the successful introduction of the Wkb. This includes the VNG, which has set up a strong implementation process to stimulate pilot projects and provide information in collaboration with other parties. We will soon tell you more about the concrete plans that are currently being developed.
Until the new starting date (that will be issued to replace the postponed starting date), the building parties have ample new opportunities to further prepare for the Wkb, to adapt their organisations and work processes, and to start pilot projects. The postponement gives sector organisations and other related organisations room to further encourage their supporters to start pilot projects. We at KOMO are doing everything we possibly can to contribute to a successful implementation of the Wkb. To this end, we too have extra time at our disposal now.
Matters to consider for new Wkb starting date
In the decision-making about the new starting date, the minister takes into account that parties, who must invest (or have already invested) in the new market activities within the framework of the Wkb, will experience a great deal of uncertainty due to the shifting of the date. We expect the minister to postpone the starting date for six months, until mid-2021. The most important thing, however, is that the scheduled introduction date must become the definite deadline! That way, all parties then have a fixed target.
