Refshaleøen redevelopment plans spark public backlash despite preservation pledges

Plans to transform Copenhagen’s Refshaleøen into a residential district have triggered widespread criticism on social media, with hundreds of users condemning proposals to build housing on the former industrial site, DR reports.

The property company managing much of the island’s land—Refshaleøens Ejendomsselskab—unveiled initial designs last week for a future neighborhood that would accommodate thousands of new residents as part of the broader Østhavnen urban development project. But the announcement prompted a flood of objections, with Instagram users calling the plans “heartbreaking” and urging developers “don’t fuck this place up.”

Since the closure of the B&W shipyard in 1996, Refshaleøen has evolved into a cultural hub, home to Scandinavia’s largest street food market, Reffen, as well as festivals, museums, and recreational spaces. Many fear the redevelopment will erase its distinctive character.

Jes Transbøl, CEO of Refshaleøens Ejendomsselskab, acknowledged the concerns but insisted the project could balance growth with preservation. “We fully recognize the worries,” he told DR. “The alternative and cultural life on Refshaleøen is something we care deeply about—and have helped create.” The company has pledged to retain most existing buildings unless structural or safety issues demand demolition.

Visualizations by architecture firms Cobe and Vandkunsten suggest green courtyards and adaptive reuse of the shipyard’s historic halls, though Transbøl stressed the designs remain preliminary. “Of course the area will look significantly different in 20 years,” he admitted, “but we’ll go to great lengths to preserve its identity.”

The plans align with Copenhagen’s broader Østhavnen project, which envisions a new district—including Refshaleøen, Kløverparken, and the artificial peninsula Lynetteholm—housing nearly 70,000 residents. However, construction cannot begin before 2036 under current timelines, contingent on improved transport links, such as an earlier opening of the proposed metro line (now slated for 2045).

While public opposition dominates online reactions, some politicians and architects have praised the vision. Jakob Næsager, conservative group leader on Copenhagen’s city council, told Politiken it would be “utterly irresponsible” not to develop Refshaleøen amid the city’s housing shortage.