Due to problems with the introduction of new European standards on air quality, environmental issues associated with transport receive all of sudden lots of attention. Local environmental effects associated with transport are not only air quality problems, but also comprise safety and noise problems. The easiest way to minimize these effects is by creating distance between infrastructure and residential areas. However, throughout the country, new residential areas arise next to the highway. So, what is the meaning of these new standards? This paper analyses the to what extent environmental standards play a role in decision-making on new housing locations. The analysis shows that municipalities themselves largely decide on such new locations. Environmental standards are hardly seen as an argument, opposite to availability and costs of new locations. Only at the detailed plan level, environmental standards play a role. Municipalities make sure that the standards are met. Discussion on the desirability of these standards is absent. Meanwhile, this implies that also in the future, new housing locations near highway will arise. This further complicates possible future extension of highways. (Author/publisher)
Abstract