Sustainability upgrade and maintenance in Bachdreef, Harderwijk in full swing
On National Public Housing Day, real estate investor Altera Management B.V., acting on behalf of the Altera Residential Fund and under the watchful eye of outgoing Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning Mona Keijzer, signed with vendor Orion Investment Partners on the purchase of 293 sustainable rental apartments in Utrecht’s Bloom Zuid project, 125 of them in the mid-range rental and 168 in the deregulated sector. Merwede Bloom Zuid is an Orion Investment Partners’ development in alliance with Boelens de Gruyter and G&S& (division of VolkerWessels). It is the second housing block in the Merwede district in which Altera has invested. Construction companies Wessels Zeist and Wessels Rijssen (a division of VolkerWessels Bouw & Vastgoedontwikkeling Noord-Oost b.v.) are responsible for building the complex.
Merwede: green, car free urban district
In the years ahead, Merwede is set to develop into a green and car-free mixed residential and working district, with a combination of social rental and owner-occupied homes and mid-range and deregulated-sector rental properties. There are commercial and social amenities within walking distance, ensuring that day-to-day needs can be easily met without the need for a car.
The mobility vision for Merwede is clear: it will be a completely car-free district. The mobility concept – combining more shared mobility and high-quality bicycle and public transport links – is an integral part of the urban design plan. There are plans for a total of around 6,000 homes in Merwede, making this one of the Netherlands’ largest inner-city housing developments.
Altera has previously invested in Bloom Park in the northern part of Merwede, acquiring some 104 rental properties, 41 in the mid-range segment, within a housing complex totalling 189 homes (85 of them owner-occupied). In addition, Altera acquired 50 mid-market and 36 private-sector rental apartments in Cix Merwede, divided over two building sections, complemented by a supermarket and various retail units.
Bloom Zuid
Just like the other housing blocks in Merwede, Bloom Zuid will feature a semi-public green inner courtyard garden, a great place to meet each other that also contributes to biodiversity and climate adaptation. Altera’s 293 rental properties will be spread across three buildings. The other buildings in Bloom Zuid will feature owner-occupied properties. The first of these homes in Bloom Zuid are expected to be completed in 2028.
The mix of mid-range and deregulated-sector rental properties caters to the growing demand for affordable quality housing in Utrecht. This investment will strengthen Altera’s position in the Utrecht housing market and help to boost the sustainable, affordable rental segment in the Randstad.
In line with Merwede’s sustainable character, Bloom Zuid has been designed to include an advanced thermal energy storage facility and climate-adaptive buildings. All homes will be heated in a sustainable manner and will have at least energy label A+, which is almost entirely zero energy.
Altera CEO Jaap van der Bijl: “The acquisition of Bloom Zuid marks the next step in our long-term strategy to invest in sustainable, future-proof and affordable housing complexes in inner-city locations. Merwede is a good example of how you can combine a car-free, climate-adaptive urban district with affordable, high-quality housing. With this investment, we’re increasing our supply of midmarket and deregulated-sector rental properties in Utrecht and offering attractive homes to a wide group of potential tenants.”
Niels van der Windt, partner at Orion Investment Partners: “Following the successful sale and start of construction of Merwede Bloom Park earlier this year, this transaction marks yet another important step in the development of Merwede Bloom Zuid. This sale underlines the exceptional quality achieved by the development team and we see Altera’s choice as clear confirmation of Merwede’s strengths. We will continue to focus on new investment and development opportunities, driven by our strong conviction in the fundamental trends in the housing market.”
Harm Boelens, Director at Boelens de Gruyter: “We are extremely proud of this development. Urban development is about creating cohesion. In Bloom Zuid, we bring together housing, amenities, and green inner courtyards into a place that works every day and adds value to the neighborhood.”
The vendor was represented in this transaction by Capital Value and Loyens en Loeff.
