Agder added 12,688 buildings to its coastal zone in 25 years

Agder municipalities have approved most development applications in the coastal zone, with 12,688 new buildings constructed in the 100-metre belt along the coast between 2000 and 2025, NRK reports.

The number of buildings increased by 35 percent during the period, while the potentially accessible coastal zone fell by nearly 5 percent. That is equivalent to about 7,000 decares, or 1,000 football pitches, according to figures from the County Governor of Agder and Statistics Norway.

About 5,000 of the new buildings are homes and holiday homes. Another 7,000 are garages and outbuildings linked to homes.

“Over the past 25 years, development has continued at a surprisingly steady pace. Piece-by-piece construction has continued despite legal changes, government requests to tighten coastal planning and warnings of stricter practices,” said Gunnar Ogwyn Lindaas, environmental director at the County Governor of Agder.

The figures were presented on Tuesday during Arendalsuka. The authorities define potentially accessible coastal zone as land more than 50 metres from a building.

Norway has had a building ban in the coastal zone for 61 years, but municipalities can grant exemptions. Municipalities in Agder approve an average of eight out of every 10 applications for exemptions.

The County Governor of Agder is now intervening in more cases where municipalities have granted permission to build in the coastal zone. The office also warned that it could appeal more municipal decisions. It currently appeals about 5 percent of cases in which municipalities grant exemptions.

“We must also look at how we can work through guidance,” Lindaas told NRK.