Store Norske resumes work on new homes in Nedre Gruvedalen

"The Governor's reply to the local council gives us the predictability we lacked, and that is why we are now resuming work on the project. Longyearbyen needs to have old and outdated homes replaced with good family homes, and we do not want to postpone that work longer than necessary" (translated), said Rune Midtgaard, chief executive of Store Norske (the state-owned mining company).

In April, Sysselmesteren (the Governor of Svalbard) notified that an objection could be raised against the sub-plan for Nedre Gruvedalen if the plan did not show that the housing cap in the Svalbard White Paper is observed. Store Norske then halted most of the work on the project.

"We could not plan a project of this size without knowing which housing account we were to relate to. Then we risked drawing something we would have to start over with," said Midtgaard.

The 2024 Svalbard White Paper said that the housing stock in Longyearbyen is not to grow beyond the level before the avalanches in 2015 and 2017. At the same time, the White Paper allows housing managers to have some overcapacity to carry out necessary rehabilitation. The government also wants the number of family homes not to be reduced when homes exposed to landslides and avalanches are replaced.

In a letter to Longyearbyen lokalstyre (the local council) on 13 September, the Governor referred to the same guidelines. The Governor wrote that follow-up of the housing account can be secured through provisions in the sub-plans that the local council adopts, and that this will give predictability in building cases.

"In the plan we are to show that Nedre Gruvedalen does not increase the number of homes Store Norske owns, and that the new homes replace homes that are demolished or phased out," said Emil Lindberg, head of planning and projects at Store Norske.

Replaces old homes and homes exposed to avalanches

In Nedre Gruvedalen today there are five residential blocks from the late 1970s with around 95 small apartments. Four of the blocks are owned by Store Norske Boliger, while Statsbygg (the Norwegian Directorate of Public Construction and Property) (the government building agency) owns the fifth. None of the homes are family apartments, and the building stock is technically obsolete. The plan is to demolish the blocks and densify the area with new homes. The project is also to help replace homes elsewhere in town, including 31 avalanche-exposed homes in Lia that are part of Store Norske's demolition plan.

Store Norske and Statsbygg cooperate on the sub-plan work and the sketch project. Store Norske is now procuring the design team that will develop the project further. The team is to work on the sketch project and preliminary project in parallel with the sub-plan, before the project is later put out to tender for construction.

The sub-plan work and the sketch project are to develop the area with a housing mix of family homes and smaller apartments, adapted to demand among Store Norske Boliger's tenants.

Work on the outdoor areas has not stood still either. In June, the youth council gave input on playgrounds, meeting places and outdoor areas. This input is to be carried forward as premises when the architects develop the project.