In its draft Environmental Vision, the municipality of Zwolle describes the quality of the physical living environment in the city and the choices it makes to strengthen it. These choices have major implications for the economy. After all, businesses need physical and environmental space, as well as reliable accessibility. In this context, the Zwolle city council submitted a motion requesting an assessment of the economic effects of the Environmental Vision. Decisio prepared this Economic Impact Report (EER) for the municipality.
Zwolle has traditionally held a strong central position. As a Hanseatic city on the River IJssel and the provincial capital, it accommodates healthcare institutions, educational facilities, offices and leisure amenities that attract people from across the region. The city also has a substantial presence in logistics, construction and manufacturing. As a result, Zwolle has a broad and robust economic base and shows strong growth in both employment and population.
In its Environmental Vision, Zwolle aims to preserve and strengthen its ‘formal’ employment areas, a logical choice as these areas account for sixty per cent of all jobs. At the same time, the municipality is pursuing a knowledge‑intensive, urban economy with a mix of housing, employment and amenities in an attractive living environment. Over the next ten years, Zwolle plans to build 10,000 new homes. Because the city wants to remain compact, several employment areas will need to be transformed to make space for this housing.
Zwolle therefore faces complex dilemmas in accommodating all these plans and ambitions. Space is scarce, so choices must be made. The Environmental Vision could benefit from greater clarity in this regard. One of the conclusions in Decisio’s Economic Impact Report captures this challenge as follows:
“Much comes down to the question of what kind of economy Zwolle aspires to. Zwolle has a diverse economy, which is a strength. If the municipality wants to preserve that, it must allow room for this diversity. The draft Environmental Vision does not make this clear. It appears that Zwolle wants both to retain existing clusters and develop new ones, while also pursuing sustainability and a sharply defined profile.”
The full report can be found here.
