Arnhem is working on collective implementation agenda for the years ahead

Why start with a municipal implementation agenda?

The municipality of Arnhem first explored which adaptation measures it could already implement in preparation for the agenda it intends to draw up in concert with its partners in the city. Ergo, the municipal implementation agenda is a point of departure: Arnhem can only realise its ambitions if businesses, government bodies, organisations, research institutes, and residents join forces. For that reason, in 2021, the municipality started to work on a collective implementation agenda for the years ahead, involving as many parties as possible in the process. The agenda will set out the projects, campaigns, and studies that the municipality and its partners intend to carry out.

Less pavement, more greenery

One of the measures that the municipality will largely take upon itself is reducing the pavement in the built-up parts of Arnhem by 10 per cent:

• The municipality is exploring the effectiveness of enforcing a target percentage in new developments;
• Arnhem is earmarking a proportion of the budget available for the removal of superfluous asphalt. It can revert to this budget if it fails to meet the targets set for the reduction of pavement in ongoing projects;
• The Tree Plan can also contribute to introducing more greenery. The municipality endorsed the Tree Plan in early 2020.

In addition to reducing pavement in the public space, Arnhem also intends to tackle all pavement in rural areas. Involvement of and commitment among such bodies as housing corporations, residents, and entrepreneurs is essential to this end.

Measures to combat waterlogging

Following the torrential rains of 28 July 2014, local residents indicated where waterlogging occurred and presented ideas to prevent future waterlogging. The municipality has incorporated this input in a “waterlogging map”. This map provides a picture of the locations that are prone to waterlogging and indicates which locations require additional measures. The municipality has divided Arnhem into five different areas and set down area-specific measures to combat waterlogging. Arnhem-South is affected least. Arnhem is ensuring that waterlogging issues will not be exacerbated in this area by, e.g., not connecting downspouts in new developments to the sewer system. In addition, all across the city, Arnhem is disconnecting 90 per cent of all public spaces from the sewer system. In the northern areas, it is taking the following additional measures:

• Transitional zones in Arnhem-North: these areas are pivotal in preventing severe waterlogging in lower-lying areas. Arnhem intends to infiltrate or buffer run-off water here, e.g., by diverting water flows to parks and other greenery;
• Well areas in Arnhem-North: these neighbourhoods at the south Veluwe border are most vulnerable to waterlogging. Arnhem is disconnecting local public space from the sewer system and creating water storage facilities. Furthermore, it is adapting roads in order to direct water flows to the storage locations. Similar efforts by individual residents in their own gardens are vitally important in this respect.

Measures to combat heat effects

Heat poses the most serious problems in the city centre and the surrounding neighbourhoods, in the industrial estates, and in the area around the Kronenburg shopping centre. Temperatures rise highest in these areas, and they accommodate large numbers of people. The ambition for these areas is to reduce the perceived temperature during days of heat. The same extends to the areas in which new developments are scheduled and which will, consequently, have more pavement. All these areas need more greenery and more water. The main measures that the municipality intends to implement in the purview of reducing the perceived temperature involve providing shaded routes and cool spots within 250 metres of every house. To this end, it plans to set up a network spanning the entire city. Also important are the cooling winds from the Veluwe, from the open areas around the city, and from the floodplains. This needs to be taken into account in area developments.

Measures to combat drought effects

In addition to combating waterlogging and heat, de-paving and water storage also prevent drought issues. These are some of the measures that Arnhem will be taking to combat drought:

• In concert with the district water boards, it intends to explore ways to keep water quality at an acceptable level during dry periods;
• It will be taking measures to prevent forest fires;
• Drought-resistant trees and shrubs will be planted in areas prone to drought;
• Rainwater will be retained to the maximum extent possible;
• Arnhem is improving the city’s sponge effect by improving the soil;
• Subsidence risks for buildings will be monitored;
• The port and the quays will remain easily accessible to the shipping sector.

Measures in focus areas

Priority will be given to areas in which climate change is entailing multiple negative consequences. In these areas, the municipality is rolling out several specific projects, intended to produce results quickly and to encourage other parties to engage in climate adaptation. These are some examples of area-specific projects:

• Greening of Ir. K.P van Muijlwijkstraat: the municipality is greening this street in collaboration with residents and entrepreneurs. It is removing pavement and also introducing vertical greenery.
• Greening of Kronenburg shopping centre: the Kronenburg shopping centre is the main heat island in Arnhem-South. The municipality is exploring how scheduled redevelopments can be used to reduce urban warming here. In addition, it is exploring, together with residents, where and how public and private spaces can be greened further. One of the focus areas is Croydonplein square and the immediate vicinity.
• Further greening of city centre: the subsidy scheme that was introduced in the city centre several years ago, enabling residents to apply for greenery boxes to be tended to themselves, is a success. In the years ahead, Arnhem aims to expand this greening with the aforementioned network of shaded routes and cool spots. This network will serve as an example for networks at other locations in the city.

Projects involving climate adaptation linkage opportunities

In several projects in Arnhem, climate adaptation is being linked to other taskings. For example, in maintenance work on the sewers and roads of Schaarsbergen, the municipality is allocating additional resources to measures aimed at preventing waterlogging. Another example is the attention being paid to climate adaptation, biodiversity, and sustainable energy in the redevelopment of the area between the provincial government building, the courthouse, and the town hall in the Bestuurskwartier district.

Contact person

Hans van Ammers
Hans.van.Ammers@arnhem.nl