Teachers, healthcare personnel and police officers find home in SAWA
March 18, 2025Mid-rent homes in SAWA successfully allocated to people with social professions and move on from social housing.
The first allocation of the 50 middle-rent homes in SAWA has been completed, with a result that underscores the goals of both NICE Developers and Focus on Impact and the Municipality of Rotterdam. As many as 43 of the 50 homes have been allocated to people who meet one or more of the special priority rules.
SAWA is not just another residential building - it is a circular wood building icon for Rotterdam. It combines owner-occupied housing with mid-rent and wood construction with biodiversity, circularity and communal spaces. This project goes beyond housing - it offers a future-oriented, sustainable living environment where people and nature reinforce each other. SAWA contributes to a city in which housing, sustainability and social cohesion go hand in hand.
The allocation shows that SAWA is actually adding value to the city. Of the homes allocated, :
- As much as 28% to people who work in education;
- Nearly25% to nurses;
- And 8% to police personnel.
In addition, fifteen tenants are moving out of social housing association housing, making these properties available again for new tenants within the social segment.
SAWA's tenants mapped:
With SAWA, we show that affordable housing and sustainability can go hand in hand. Thanks to the priority rules, people with a crucial profession get the chance to continue living in Rotterdam, close to their work and community. In addition, this project ensures more circulation in the social rental sector, so that together we really mean something for the city. All this in Rotterdam's most sustainable residential building - a great example of how we can link housing, sustainability and social inclusion.
Alderman Building, Housing, Climate at Municipality of Rotterdam, Chantal Zeegers
This approach fits perfectly with the Rotterdam City Council's Middle Rent Action Plan, which aims to make affordable rental housing available for middle-income earners, so that people with these social professions can continue to live in the city. NICE and Focus on Impact are not doing this because they are obliged to, but because they feel it is important to contribute to an inclusive and fair housing market.
"This is exactly why we developed SAWA. With these priority rules, we contribute to a fairer housing market and show that it is possible to create affordable housing, even in the most sustainable residential building in Rotterdam. We are extremely happy that so many people with a crucial profession for the city of Rotterdam have found a home here."
co-founder of NICE Developers, Mark Compeer
Leasing was carried out on behalf of Focus on Impact by NICE Developers in collaboration with Schep Vastgoedmanagers. In addition, cooperation was established with housing corporations Havensteder and Woonbron to further increase the impact. With SAWA, NICE Developers and Focus on Impact set a new standard in the housing market: sustainable, socially inclusive and with an eye to the future.
