The buildings must against the plain for a new complex of six apartments and an underground parking garage. Local residents have long protested against the building plans, mainly because of the deterioration of the nineteenth-century character of the street. The protest to no avail, but the demolition is now temporarily halted, project developer Rob Voet confirms.
Last week, the Party for the Animals sounded the alarm about protecting swifts’ nests. Councilor Anke Bakker saw on municipal bird maps that parts of the roof were used by these birds as a breeding site in 2019 at least.
Poor comfort
The swift is protected by the Nature Conservation Act, and their nest must be protected all year round. The Party for the Animals has asked the council questions and a local resident subsequently reported the matter to the Noord-Holland Noord Environmental Service. Now it must be investigated whether there are indeed nests on the roof.
“So we have to wait a while before demolishing until we have mapped everything out and have properly arranged the building permit,” confirms developer Rob Voet. “I assume we can continue very soon.” Because it is not breeding season now, he does not assume that there are currently swifts nests. “And the roof is large enough to allow for a breeding ground in the building plans,” says Voet.
Jos Korver, local resident and activist, calls the demolition stop a ‘little consolation for people who fought for this’. “So much has already been demolished and dismantled that this is really just a stay of execution.” It is unclear exactly how long the investigation will take.
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