Plans for nursing home in Grafarvogur, Reykjavik face delays as mayor and health minister exchange blame

Plans for a nursing home in Grafarvogur, Reykjavik, have faced significant delays, with the mayor and health minister blaming each other for the impasse. Einar Þorsteinsson, the mayor, expressed that the delay is primarily due to issues with the State Construction Agency. He emphasized that the city remains committed to supporting the development of nursing facilities and claims that the health minister shares this ambition.

A contract for the nursing home, originally signed in 2021, proposed that construction would be completed by 2026. Despite these plans, no work has commenced. According to the agreement between the state and Reykjavik City, the facility was intended to accommodate 144 residents, with an estimated cost of ISK 7.7 billion, funded by 85% from the state and 15% from the city.

In a recent interview, Health Minister Willum Þór Þórsson stated that the hold-up is due to incomplete urban planning concerning Mosaveg, while Mayor Þorsteinsson contended that the city had finalized its part of the planning process. The mayor indicated that the delay stems from issues at the State Construction Agency, namely concerning infrastructure that needs relocating.

Despite the setbacks, Þorsteinsson pointed out that the city is actively working on a project to create quality living spaces for the elderly, which includes plans for nursing homes across four locations in the city and nearly 3,000 new residential units for seniors. He affirmed the city’s focus on facilitating the construction of nursing spaces, acknowledging the health minister’s efforts to involve private companies in the development process.