The new Manual for spatial quality advisory practices (Handreiking Adviesstelsel Omgevingskwaliteit) was published today.

This Manual outlines the possibilities for innovation of the advisory practice under the new Environment and Planning Act (expected to come into effect in 2022). Under this law, responsibility for good spatial and environment quality (omgevingskwaliteit) lies almost entirely at provincial and local level. The municipal council determines when and on which subjects advice is requested from the statutory municipal advisory committee.

José is project leader of the Manual, which was commissioned by the Association of Netherlands Municipalities, the national Cultural Heritage Agency of and the Federation of Spatial Quality, in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. Part 2 of the Manual will be published in the fall of 2020, probably as a model for regulation on the municipal advisory committee.

The Manual assists municipalities to create a coherent advisory system for good spatial and environment quality. Current local practices are multifaceted. Many traditional aesthetic committees have grown into advisory committees on spatial quality. Some municipalities installed city architects or village architects. In addition, there are official advisers and supervisors or quality teams. All of them generally have more tasks than advising on permit applications for renovations and new construction. They often advise whether and how an initiative is possible at an early stage, and initiate a dialogue on how an initiative can add public value to the physical living environment.

Who: José van Campen, Wim Mulder, Janos Boros, klankbordgroep praktijk en stuurgroep opdrachtgevers VNG, RCE en FRK
Where: Nederland
When: 2019-2020