The Netherlands is currently facing a housing shortage. One of the key challenges in the housing system is the lengthy duration of housing development, which averages around 10 years (Ministerie Volkshuisvesting en Ruimtelijke Ordening, 2023). The most time consuming phase is the planning phase, which averages around 6 years. To address this issue, the concept of parallel planning has been introduced. Parallel planning is a planning method that combines activities along the timeline to shorten the overall duration and introduces a new working method for housing development projects.
However, the applicability of this method has not yet been tested on completed projects. This research aims to evaluate parallel planning by addressing the following research question:
How can parallel planning address delays in housing development to reduce the planning phase?
This question is explored using qualitative methods, including literature analysis, interviews, and two case studies of completed housing projects. The results confirm that parallel planning seeks to reduce the duration of housing development not only by restructuring the timeline but also by mitigating delays through its working method. It primarily addresses internal delays by enhancing coordination among stakeholders and improving the overall efficiency of the planning process. ... Read more