In March 2005, the municipal council of Slochteren approved the master plan of Meerstad.

[5] The town would be built on a 2,300 hectares (5,700 acres) area,[3] and would cater to middle income families.

[9] In 2015, it was announced that Meerstad would be transferred to the city of Groningen effective 1 January 2017.

[10] The villages of Harkstede and Lageland [nl] which were located within the Meerstad project would remain in Slochteren.

[11] In 2021, the losses on the Meerstad project were in excess of €100 million,[8] and the population was 2,595 people.