Plans for large seaside hotel raise concerns in Lundeborg

A proposed 312-guest hotel in the small coastal village of Lundeborg on southern Funen has sparked worries among residents over its environmental impact and increased traffic, DR reports.

Anette Pedersen, chair of the Lundeborg Citizens’ Association, expressed concern over the project’s scale in a village of just 430 inhabitants. “A hotel for 312 guests in a town this small is alarming in itself,” she said. The group fears harm to local wildlife and nature, as well as a surge in car traffic—potentially up to 600 daily trips along a narrow residential road.

The developer, Skanlux, and Svendborg Municipality maintain the project complies with local planning regulations. Bjørn Krogh Andersen, Skanlux director, dismissed concerns, stating: “I fully understand the interest, but there’s no cause for alarm.” The municipality’s planning committee chair, Arne Ebsen (SF), confirmed the project aligns with the 2020 local plan, which rezoned the former campsite for hotel use.

Residents argue the current design was only revealed this year, leaving little time for scrutiny. The Danish Society for Nature Conservation’s local branch supports calls for a full environmental impact assessment, warning of risks to protected species from year-round activity—unlike the seasonal campsite previously on the site.

Skanlux has applied for multiple exemptions to local zoning rules, which the company claims benefit the project. Plans include six large buildings (600–937 sqm each) with 12 apartments, a reception, and a restaurant. The hotel is expected to create eight permanent jobs in services, cleaning, and maintenance.

Archaeological excavations by Svendborg Museum are already underway on the site, which was previously a busy campsite. Skanlux asserts prior biological surveys found no threatened species, though residents remain skeptical.

The planning committee will decide on final approval at its next meeting on 2 June.