Teachers, healthcare professionals, and police officers find a home in SAWA
March 18, 2025Mid-market rental properties in SAWA successfully allocated to individuals in essential public professions and those transitioning from social housing.
The first allocation of the 50 mid-range rental homes in SAWA has been completed, with a result that underscores the objectives of NICE Developers Focus on Impact the Municipality of Rotterdam. No fewer than 43 of the 50 homes have been allocated to people who meet one or more of the special priority rules.
SAWA is more than just a residential building – it is a circular timber construction icon for Rotterdam. It integrates owner-occupied homes with mid-market rentals, and timber construction with biodiversity, circularity, and communal spaces. This project extends beyond mere housing, offering a future-oriented, sustainable living environment where people and nature mutually reinforce each other. SAWA contributes to a city where housing, sustainability, and social cohesion are intrinsically linked.
The allocation process reveals that SAWA genuinely adds value to the city. Of the allocated units:
- A remarkable 28% to individuals working in education;
- Nearly 25% to nurses;
- And 8% to police personnel.
Additionally, fifteen tenants are relocating from social rental housing managed by a housing corporation, thereby making these units available again for new tenants within the social segment.
SAWA Tenants Profiled:
With SAWA, we demonstrate that affordable housing and sustainability can go hand in hand. Thanks to the priority criteria, individuals in critical professions have the opportunity to continue living in Rotterdam, close to their work and community. Furthermore, this project facilitates greater housing mobility within the social housing sector, enabling us to collectively make a significant impact on the city. All of this is achieved within Rotterdam's most sustainable residential building – a prime example of how we can integrate housing, sustainability, and social inclusion.
Alderman for Building, Housing, and Climate at the Municipality of Rotterdam, Chantal Zeegers
This approach ties in seamlessly with the Municipality of Rotterdam's Mid-range Rent Action Plan, which focuses on making affordable rental homes available to people with a mid-range income, so that people in these social professions can continue to live in the city. NICE and Focus on Impact not Focus on Impact this because they are obliged to, but because they believe it is important to contribute to an inclusive and fair housing market.
“This is precisely why we developed SAWA. Through these priority criteria, we contribute to a more equitable housing market and demonstrate the feasibility of realizing affordable housing, even within Rotterdam's most sustainable residential building. We are extremely pleased that so many individuals in critical professions for the city of Rotterdam have found a home here.”
co-founder of NICE Developers, Mark Compeer
The rental was arranged on behalf of Focus on Impact by NICE Developers collaboration with Schep Vastgoedmanagers. In addition, they collaborated with housing associations Havensteder and Woonbron to further increase the impact. With SAWA, NICE Developers Focus on Impact are setting Focus on Impact new standard in the housing market: sustainable, socially inclusive, and with an eye to the future.
