Construction starts on Utrecht's new urban district Grow in Merwede

Real estate developers AM and Synchroon have officially started building Grow in Merwede (Block 8), a new urban district in Utrecht, Netherlands. The project launch was marked by Utrecht Alderman Eelco Eerenberg.

The initiative is a collaboration between Synchroon and AM, a part of Royal BAM Group, and is part of Utrechts broader urban renewal and sustainable development efforts. The master plan spans approximately 75,000m of gross floor area (GFA) and integrates multiple functions.

The new city block is designed to facilitate living, working, exercising, and social interactions. Emphasis will be placed on healthy routines, active lifestyles, and communal engagement, while incorporating green spaces and biodiversity throughout the development.

Architectural design is led by KCAP, Monk Architecten, Studio Nauta, and Flux Landscape Architecture. The project is scheduled for full completion by 2029.

The development will include 575 residential units consisting of 188 social rental apartments, 140 mid-range and private rental apartments, and 247 owner-occupied apartments. Additional amenities will include a health centre, daycare facility, offices, fitness centre, commercial spaces, parking for over 1,900 bicycles, and a public parking garage with 380 car spaces.

A 4,500m courtyard garden will be integrated into the block to support nature-based activities and community gatherings. The handover of the first homes is expected to begin in 2027, as part of a wider plan to deliver around 6,000 new homes in the coming years.

Author: Sophia Brooks