The Dutch state needs to identify more locations where new residential areas of 3,000 homes and upward can be built after 2030, housing minister Hugo de Jonge has told the Telegraaf in an interview.

The area between Groningen and Assen, the Eindhoven region, Zuid-Limburg and the area around Apeldoorn, Deventer and Zutphen are among potential locations, De Jonge said.

Some 17 locations have already been earmarked for major development up to 2030, involving the construction of 300,000 new homes. However, this will not be enough for the future, the minister said.

De Jonge earlier set a target of 980,000 new homes by the turn of the next decade, but that figure is unlikely to be realised.

High land prices, construction costs and government rules have had an impact already and the number of new permits awarded this year is likely to be 55% of the government target. The Netherlands currently has a shortage of some 400,000 homes.

MPs are debating the housing ministry’s budget this week.