Iceland seeks court ruling to confirm ownership of Government House plot

Iceland’s government will seek a district court ruling to confirm its ownership of the plot at Lækjargata 1 in Reykjavík, where construction of a new building behind Government House is due to begin. The report was published by mbl.is.

Groundwork is expected to start in the coming weeks. The planned ownership proceedings follow delays in issuing a construction permit after the district commissioner could not confirm that the state had registered title to the land. The relevant authorities have reviewed historical documents, and Reykjavík has since issued a building permit.

Government House, built by the Danish state as a prison, was first used in 1771. It served as a prison until 1813 and later became the official residence of the Danish king’s representative in Iceland. Since home rule began in 1904, Iceland’s prime ministers have had their offices in the building.

The plot was part of the Arnarhóll estate, which belonged to Viðey Monastery in the Middle Ages and before the Reformation. Monastery lands in Iceland passed to Danish authorities during the Reformation in the mid-16th century, and officials in Copenhagen later authorised the prison’s construction on part of the land. The court proceedings are intended to examine old records and remove any doubt about ownership.