Dordrecht – Restructuring Wielwijk

The Wielwijk residential district is 60 years old, and due for restructuring. In collaboration with local residents and the housing corporation Woonbron, a search was undertaken to develop a sustainable spatial structure within which the necessary urban renewal can be achieved. The programme involves both physical renewal based on major interventions in the existing housing stock and outdoor space, and social renewal based on a stimulation programme aimed at involving local residents. The restructuring of the district is split into subareas that are currently in varying stages of development. Demolition work is underway, alongside new building and the laying out of a green park ribbon development in the centre of Wielwijk.

The Municipality of Dordrecht and the Woonbron housing corporation view this development as an opportunity to put circular principles into practice. This was the background to the study ‘Wielwijk Circular’ by the consultancy firms Overmorgen and Urbanos, undertaken on behalf of the Board of Government Advisors (College van Rijksadviseurs).

The restructuring of Wielwijk started in 2006 and is broken down into a series of sub phases. Although no specific circular ambition was formulated, for each subproject a study was undertaken into the opportunities for energy transition and circularity. Woonbron for example took the initiative to demolish the out-of-date blocks of flats on a circular basis.

The demolition material is being reprocessed to form new raw material in collaboration with the company New Horizon and their partners.

The new buildings are also being connected to the local heat network, and the new neighbourhood will feature additional green space and water areas.

The municipality is contract-awarding party for the public space and is working alongside the housing corporation Woonbron, the Hollandse Delta water board, contractors and local residents in order to achieve the targets set.

Residents are invited to contribute ideas and help reach decisions on the layout of the public space. This will not only result in a more attractive neighbourhood but will also generate greater social cohesion based on a raft of different themes including climate adaptation and sustainability.