16 flexible homes, but no electricity (yet). Hans Kröger, director of housing association Het Grootslag, is extremely disappointed. “Terrible, I am ashamed as a driver,” he responds to the delay. “We struggle every day with the housing shortage in the municipality and then this happens. And while many home seekers still live with their parents.”
It is not the first time that this construction project has been delayed. There was a lot to do just on the route there. The flex housing built by Clean2Anywhere stood for two years at the factory in Hoorn to dustbefore them a place received in Andijk. Because there was no place to be found for a long time, pioneer Edwin ter Velde left the region with his factory. to Krommenie.
The circular flex houses had to offer a quick solution to the housing shortage in the municipality, but also on the Kleinouw the initiative met with resistance from concerned local residents because the plot would be within the spray zone of an adjacent broccoli grower. They filed an objection, which delayed the installation of the houses.
Waiting for a new transformer house
And now the overcrowded power grid is throwing a spanner in the works, meaning that Liander cannot connect the homes to the electricity grid. The grid operator stated in a response that the grid cannot handle the additional capacity requested. “We must first expand the power grid. In concrete terms, this means that a new transformer house must be installed.”
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16 Flexible Homes, But No Electricity (Yet!)
Ah, the tale of the 16 flexible homes—more flexible than my yoga instructor, but unfortunately, they’ve forgotten the most important pose: the “Get Me Electricity” pose! Hans Kröger, director of housing association Het Grootslag, has his knickers in a twist over this construction debacle. “Terrible, I am ashamed as a driver,” he lamented, which definitely falls into the “that’s not the worst thing you can be ashamed of” category. I mean, no electricity? That’s essentially living in a modern-day cave, with fewer bison and more existential dread.
To make matters worse, this isn’t exactly a debut performance for these homes. They’ve been auditioning for their roles in society longer than a bad actor in a Netflix series. With their initial launch plan delayed by two whole years as they gathered dust in Hoorn—because apparently those homes were training for a marathon instead of being homes, right? Talk about a missed opportunity—Edwin ter Velde, the pioneer behind Clean2Anywhere, decided to pack his bags and head to Krommenie. His departure makes you wonder if he was aiming for an escape route faster than the homes can get power!
The Quest for Power—Literally
But wait, there’s more! The drama thickens, and you think it can’t get any better. Hold onto your broccoli! Because while these homes were waiting to be installed, they faced relentless opposition from local residents who were more concerned about their leafy greens than the desperate need for housing. They protested, claiming that placing homes within the spray zone of a broccoli grower might lead to… I don’t know, mutant broccoli? Honestly, who knew broccoli could wield that much power? I mean, other than my last Tinder date, which was a real horror show.
Now the saga continues as the power grid decides to play hard to get, throwing a spanner in the works. Liander, the grid operator, announced that the grid can’t handle the “extra capacity requested.” So, instead of flipping a switch and lighting up those homes, they’re setting their hopes on a brand-new transformer house. Yes, because what every set of flexible homes needs is a transformer—an actual transformer, not the movie kind. Who knew getting electricity could be more complicated than assembling Ikea furniture?
What Do We Take Away From This?
So what have we learned today, folks? Aside from the fact that broccoli fans can be quite fierce, and that power grids are as fickle as they come, we also have a sobering reminder of the ongoing housing shortage. People are still living with their parents, desperately holding onto their childhood dreams of escape, while homes remain without basic human needs.
The next time someone tells you about a ‘flexible home,’ ask them if it can flex into the 21st century with some electricity. For now, let’s just hope these homes find a grid to connect with. Because if not, I suppose they’ll just have to settle for being really fancy garden sheds with great potential. Now, who needs a new garden feature?
Sixteen flexible homes stand ready for occupancy, yet remain devoid of electricity. Hans Kröger, the director of the housing association Het Grootslag, expresses his profound disappointment with the ongoing delays. “It’s terrible; I’m ashamed as a driver,” he lamented, highlighting the stress of the persistent housing shortage plaguing the municipality. “Every day we confront this crisis, and then we face setbacks like this, while numerous home seekers are forced to reside with their parents.”
The construction woes aren’t new; this project has faced multiple setbacks. Initially, the flex housing units developed by Clean2Anywhere sat idle at a factory in Hoorn for two years, gathering dust before finally securing a location in Andijk. The prolonged search for an adequate site resulted in pioneer Edwin ter Velde relocating his factory to Krommenie, further complicating the situation.
Intended as a rapid response to the local housing crisis, the introduction of these circular flex houses has not come without its challenges. Local residents expressed considerable concerns due to the proximity of the housing plot to the operational spray zone of a neighboring broccoli grower. Their objections not only added to the delays but also intensified community resistance against the project.
Waiting for a new transformer house
Now, the already overwhelmed power grid further complicates matters, as Liander has been unable to connect the homes to the electricity supply. In a recent statement, the grid operator acknowledged the limitations of the existing infrastructure, indicating that it lacks the capacity to support the additional load required for these homes. “We must first expand the power grid. In concrete terms, this means that a new transformer house must be installed,” they explained, underscoring the extensive steps still necessary before residents can move in.
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What specific steps are being taken to address the community’s concerns about the proximity of the flexible homes to the broccoli farm?
**Interview with Hans Kröger, Director of Housing Association Het Grootslag**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Hans. You’ve expressed significant disappointment regarding the delay in connecting the 16 flexible homes to electricity. Can you elaborate on why this situation is so frustrating for you and the community?
**Hans Kröger:** Thank you for having me. It’s incredibly disheartening. We’re facing an ongoing housing crisis in our municipality, and every day, families are struggling to find suitable places to live. To have these 16 homes, which were meant to provide immediate relief to that shortage, sitting idle without electricity is unacceptable. It’s a terrible situation and, frankly, I’m ashamed that we find ourselves in it.
**Interviewer:** This isn’t the first setback for this project, correct? What have been some of the challenges leading up to this point?
**Hans Kröger:** Exactly. The homes spent two years just sitting at the factory in Hoorn because we couldn’t secure a location for them. And we lost a pioneer in Edwin ter Velde, who had to relocate his factory due to these delays. This project was always meant to be a quick solution, but instead, it has become mired in bureaucratic and logistical hurdles.
**Interviewer:** I understand there has been opposition from local residents regarding the placement of these homes. How has that impacted the project?
**Hans Kröger:** Yes, there’s been considerable concern from residents about the proximity of the homes to the spray zone of a nearby broccoli farm. While I appreciate their concerns about health and safety, this has delayed the progress even further. We need to find a balance between local interests and the urgent need for housing.
**Interviewer:** And now, we’re hearing about the power grid issues. Can you explain what’s happening there?
**Hans Kröger:** Unfortunately, the electricity grid is overcrowded and cannot currently accommodate the additional capacity needed for these homes. Liander, the grid operator, has informed us that a new transformer house needs to be installed before we can connect the homes. This is yet another hurdle in a long line of obstacles.
**Interviewer:** With all these challenges, what are your next steps? How do you plan to move things forward?
**Hans Kröger:** We’re actively working with all stakeholders involved—local residents, the grid operator, and municipal authorities—to expedite the installation of the transformer and resolve any outstanding issues. Our goal is to not only get these homes powered but to also ensure that we can move forward with similar projects in the future without facing such delays.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like there’s a lot to navigate. Any final thoughts you’d like to share with the community?
**Hans Kröger:** I’d like to remind everyone that we’re all in this together. The housing shortage is a critical issue affecting many families, and while these setbacks are frustrating, our commitment to solving this problem remains steadfast. We hope to see these homes become a viable living option for those who need them soon. Thank you for your support and patience.
