Welstandsnota 2023 – Schouwen-Duiveland Building Aesthetics Policy
The Welstandsnota 2023 is the official regulatory framework established by the Gemeente Schouwen-Duiveland to assess building plans for spatial quality and architectural heritage. Formulated under the authority of the Woningwet (Housing Act), this document provides the legal basis for the municipality to evaluate construction projects. It incorporates terminology and procedures aligned with the Wet algemene bepalingen omgevingsrecht (Wabo) and the Modernisering Monumentenzorg (MoMo), ensuring that cultural-historical interests are integrated into the spatial planning process.
The document covers diverse regulatory domains including historical town centers, planned urban extensions, industrial estates, and rural areas. It defines specific criteria for structural elements such as situering (positioning), massa en vorm (mass and form), and detaillering (detailing). The policy identifies four distinct welstandsniveaus (aesthetic control levels), ranging from high-protection zones for monuments and protected views to aesthetic-free zones where no prior assessment is required. It also sets forth concrete requirements for specific objects such as strandpaviljoens (beach pavilions), wind turbines, and solar energy installations.
This framework serves as a manual for both applicants and the Commissie ruimtelijke kwaliteit (Commission for Spatial Quality). It details the procedures for administrative handling of simple applications and the advisory role of the commission for complex spatial initiatives. The following sections outline the core aesthetic principles and area-specific regulations applicable within the municipality.
General Aesthetic Criteria
The general criteria form the foundation for every plan assessment, focusing on the relationship between the building plan and its existing environment, public space, and landscape.
- Situering: Evaluates the position of the structure relative to neighboring buildings, the street layout, and the public domain.
- Massa en vorm: Focuses on the main volume and shape, requiring that extensions and outbuildings remain subordinate to the main mass.
- Maat en schaal: Ensures the dimensions (width, length, and height) correspond to the human scale and the surrounding context.
- Gevelkarakteristiek: Assesses the appearance of facades visible from public space, including rhythm, composition, and plasticity.
- Detaillering: Reviews the execution of specific elements such as gutters, roof edges, window frames, and wall anchors.
Aesthetic Control Levels (Welstandsniveaus)
Schouwen-Duiveland is divided into different zones based on the required level of aesthetic oversight to maintain or enhance spatial quality.
- Niveau 1 – Protected views and monuments: Applied to areas of high cultural-historical value like Zierikzee, Brouwershaven, Noordgouwe, and Dreischor.
- Niveau 2 – Special aesthetic areas: Includes historical village cores and sensitive landscapes where extra attention to spatial quality is desired.
- Niveau 3 – Regular aesthetic areas: Covers post-war extensions and industrial sites where the goal is to maintain basic spatial standards.
- Niveau 4 – Aesthetic-free zones: Areas where no assessment against aesthetic requirements is conducted for building permit applications.
Criteria for Specific Objects
Chapter 4 defines individual assessment frameworks for structures that require unique criteria regardless of their location.
- Wind turbines: Large-scale turbines must be grey and follow specific height and lighting requirements; small turbines are limited to a 21-meter tip height.
- Strandpaviljoens: These must exhibit an open, transparent character with a maximum of 60% of the length built parallel to the dunes.
- Solar panels: Installations on monuments or within protected views must not be visible from public space and should follow a carefully designed layout.
- Antennas: Dish antennas are limited to a maximum diameter of 0.70 meters and must be placed out of sight from public spaces.
Small Building Review Framework (Toetscriteria)
To streamline procedures, Chapter 5 contains objective criteria for small-scale projects that can be handled administratively without the commission's intervention.
- Dakkapellen (Dormers): Front-facing dormers are limited to a maximum height of 1.5 meters and a width of 50% of the roof plane.
- Aan- en uitbouwen (Extensions): Must be single-story and subordinate to the main building, typically with a flat roof.
- Erfafscheidingen (Fences): Materials like corrugated iron or concrete slabs are prohibited; designs must harmonize with the main building.
- Zonwering (Awnings): On monuments, these must be made of canvas and restricted to the ground floor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the rules for solar panels on a monument in Schouwen-Duiveland?
Solar panels on monuments or within protected cityscapes should ideally be placed on roof planes not visible from public space. They must be installed flat against the roof in a continuous rectangular plane and require a permit assessment.
Are there limits on the size of a dormer window (dakkapel)?
Yes, front-facing dormers may not exceed a height of 1.5 meters from the base to the top of the trim and their width is limited to 50% of the total width of the roof plane.
What is the maximum height for small wind turbines in rural areas?
In rural areas, small wind turbines are permitted at agricultural businesses with high energy consumption, with a maximum tip height of 21 meters.
Can I build a carport in the front yard of a property in Poortambacht, Zierikzee?
The policy allows for carports to be enclosed as storage units at the front of properties in specific streets like Kreeftstraat and Oesterstraat, provided they relate to existing nearby structures and pass a material and color review.
What materials are prohibited for outbuildings and extensions?
Materials such as concrete slabs, corrugated iron (golfplaat), and profile steel sheets (damwandprofielplaat) are generally not permitted for visible extensions or outbuildings.
What happens if a building project violates aesthetic standards after completion?
The municipality can use the excessenregeling (excesses policy) for repressive oversight. This applies to projects that seriously conflict with reasonable aesthetic requirements, such as using poor materials or colors that clash excessively with the environment.
