Dalregmentet is one of Sweden's most distinguished and oldest provincial regiments. The premises and properties are owned by the ailing real estate company SBB, which is now trying to sell its property portfolio.
Today, there are few rules governing who may own Swedish security-classified buildings. Stakeholders have mentioned, among others, a Hong Kong-Chinese billionaire.
Sensitive data risks ending up in foreign hands
Kåpan's real estate company recently bought a large part of SBB's state-owned properties. Cecilia Westin has a background in state-owned Specialfastigheter, which owns and manages sensitive buildings such as prisons and courts.
According to Cecila Vestin, there are many aspects to classified buildings that mean that not everyone should own them.
Documentation, drawings, IT procurements, cleaning staff and electricity consumption are sensitive data. High electricity consumption can be a sign of activities that are important for Swedish security.
– If you want to influence Sweden and close down such a business, it is important that such documentation does not come out, says Cecilia Vestin.
Wants the government to act
According to the government, there are currently no plans to intervene if sensitive buildings risk being sold to unsuitable foreign buyers. According to Cecilia Westin, the government should act. Otherwise, there is a risk that, for example, military buildings such as Dalregementet may end up with Russian or Chinese owners.
"We really welcome the fact that this issue is being raised and taken where it needs to be – at government level. It has been and still is an unregulated market. It has been very easy to acquire these properties. The market is not really capable of managing it itself here, directives are probably needed, says Cecilia Vestin.