Here, taxpayers must be responsible for landowners' building plans

When a new building is to be built in Torhamn, Karlskrona Municipality makes the unusual move to pay the private landowners' costs of SEK 900,000 for the development of a new detailed plan.

- There are special conditions for building in smaller towns and in the countryside. Different stimulus measures are needed, ”says Magnus Larsson (C), who is a municipal council in Karlskrona.

He also points out that at the same time the municipality signs a so-called land option agreement with the property owners, which means that the municipality will buy part of the land for use in residential areas and apartments. Magnus Larsson believes that the price is favorable and that the municipality thereby gets the money again to pay for the detailed plan.

He also points out that without this deal there would not have been new housing in Torhamn. In other parts of the municipality, he points out that the municipality stimulates construction in different ways.

- In Torhamn we test this solution. In Holmsjö we also want to build and give the assignment to Karlskronahem. We buy land in Rödeby that enables construction there. We have also changed our land in Jämjö, says Magnus Larsson (C).

The ruling Center Party, the Social Democrats and the Liberals drove through the deal in the municipal government last week. The Moderates and Christian Democrats, who belong to the opposition, are critical and reserved.

- We want detailed plans to be drawn up, but we think that just as in other cases, the landowners themselves must finance their detailed plans, says Camilla Brunsberg (M), who is opposition council in Karlskrona.

Will the municipality continue to pay the detailed plan for private landowners?

- No, it's not supposed to work that way in general. This is a special solution, ”says Magnus Larsson (C).