The axes that traditionally connect the city with the region are now dominated by cars. Vehicles can penetrate deeply into the urban heart of the city. The introduction of ‘sustainable transport hubs’ on the outskirts of the city will allow Groningen to redefine and redesign these urban axes. Alternative modes of transport, such as automated electric vehicles and bicycles, are cleaner and less space consuming. The Suikerunie terrain, positioned on the urban ring road, is the perfect place to pioneer a sustainable transport hub. It will allow clean, slow transport of people and goods into the city. Leaving room for new high quality public space and green/blue spaces for climate adaptation. The Suikeras will then be transformed into a sustainable slow lane to serve the city.

Storm water management will become increasingly important in cities. need to stop with dischargeing clean rainwater into the sewage system or on our surface water. Instead, the storage and filtration of water into the soil is the way forward. This requires space within the city - space that is now consumed by roads and parked cars.

Waterways, like the Hoendiep, will transform into blue-green ecological corridors with the ability to slow down water discharge. Streets will transform into landscapes that infiltrate, evaporate and provide shade. Each neighborhood will have a central place for water storage and infiltration; a functional ‘storm water collector’ that will also benefit as attractive public space with swimmable water.

Agricultural land in the Province of Groningen is fertile, productive and part of a global system. The call for locally produced and consumed food is loud - shorter supply chaines mean fresher products. For long, the Suikerunie has been the region’s central destination for the production, processing and exportation of sugar beets. In the future, the area will regain this role as a market;place for locally produced food. A new cooling warehouse and market hall, de Campagne, will have a prominent address on the Suikeras; combining sustainable transport with sustainable consumption.