01 · Challenge
Converting retail zoning to residential in Den Haag
The owner of a property in the Schilderswijk neighbourhood with a retail designation on the ground floor and a large upper dwelling wanted to convert the building fully into four self-contained rental units. The Hague has strict policy on mixed use in shopping streets and imposes additional fire safety requirements for property splitting. Furthermore, the municipality requires a use permit in addition to the building permit when more than three residential units are created. The application had to follow the municipality's residential formation policy in full to avoid any objections.
02 · Our approach
Zoning plan checked before the pencil hit the paper
We started with a thorough review of The Hague's zoning plan: is residential formation permitted at this address and what are the minimum floor areas per unit? We then designed four apartments of 48 to 65 m² with their own kitchen, bathroom and bedroom, with fire escape routes fully compliant with the rules for multi-family buildings. We prepared a detailed fire safety report that was included as an appendix to the building permit application, plus the complete splitting documentation for the notarial deed.
03 · Result
Four permitted dwellings, ready for rental
The building permit was granted within 10 weeks, including the required usage permit for multi-family occupancy. The four apartments are now all let: two on the ground floor with their own entrance via the former shop entrance and two on the upper floor. The owner was able to recoup the investment thanks to the swift permit procedure and the construction-ready drawings with which the contractor could start immediately.