Property owners threaten compensation claim over Tórshavn planning proposal

Property owners have threatened to seek compensation if Tórshavn City Council approves a proposed special planning regulation for the area between Grasagarður and Finsen, KVF reports.

In a consultation submission, the owners said the proposed provisions would impose severe restrictions on their property and allow it to be used only for public purposes. They reserved the right to seek compensation for the “extensive and restrictive” provisions.

They also described the proposal as unusual and unlike the practice normally followed for such regulations.

The proposal would extend the existing special planning regulation to cover a large area without making significant changes to the rules already applying there. However, in a very small corner where City Church is located, approximately one twentieth of the total area, it would allow a building that the owners said would not fit the overall character of the area.

According to the consultation submission, the building would be roughly the same size in height and volume as Christianskirkjan in Klaksvík. While that church stands freely, the proposed building would be placed on a plot roughly the size of a typical residential lot, the owners said.

They said the planned construction would cause significant disruption and that the municipality would exceed its authority by adopting the proposal.

City Church in Tórshavn was badly damaged by fire in February 2024 and wants to build a new structure larger than the old one. The municipality says amending the planning regulation is therefore necessary.

Only one consultation submission was received. After considering it, the municipality will send the proposal for the special planning regulation to the government, which will then review the matter and notify the municipality of its decision.