Municipal management of planning and building applications, 2005

These results are taken from KOSTRA 2005, preliminary figures. The statistics only include exemptions for new buildings. The high level of approval may be partly explained by the practice in some municipalities that likely rejections are signalled in preliminary negotiations. Such rejections are not included in the statistics. The general ban on building developments in the coastal zone does not apply in areas regulated for development. Therefore, the number of exemptions does not give the full picture of the level of development in the coastal zone. In 2005, 1 800 applications for new buildings in the coastal zone were granted in accordance with the plan. This is the first year this has been reported (see also Development in the coastal zone (1985-2004) - Highest activity in urban areas ).

Half of objections to municipal plans due to environmental considerations

Norwegian municipalities have a vital impact on the protection and management of the environment through the administration of the Planning and Building Act. The central authorities can forward objections to municipal plans if they are in conflict with national interests.

The central authorities made objections to 20 per cent of all municipal plans circulated for consultation in 2005. About half of the objections were due to environmental considerations (figure 2). Forty per cent of the objections were due to transport, planning and other considerations, while the rest were due to industrial considerations, of which agriculture and forestry dominated.

The reporting in KOSTRA does not include the results of these objections. The municipalities can either comply; negotiate with the authority that has forwarded the objection, or the final decision is taken by the Ministry of the Environment.

Administration fees cover larger share of expenses

In 2005, gross expenses in land use planning amounted to NOK 2 billion, or NOK 434 per capita. This is about the same level as in 2004. However, gross income increased, from NOK 1.2 billion in 2004 to NOK 1.35 billion in 2005. Thus, the preliminary figures show that the income in land use planning increased substantially last year, while the expenses remained virtually the same.

The increased income must be seen in conjunction with an increase in administration fees. The fees for regulation plans, building plans and the subdivision of land, including surveys, increased by 23, 13 and 7 per cent² respectively. This is also substantially higher than general inflation. While the processing time for plans and zoning plans building has remained stable, it has increased for the subdivision of land.

For general information on KOSTRA, see http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/00/00/20/kostra_en/ . More detailed tables on the subject will be published in English on 15 June.

See also:

Development in the coastal zone (1985-2004) - Highest activity in urban areas .

Local environmental efforts in municipalities and county authorities, preliminary figures 2005

¹ Approximately 75 per cent of the municipalities had reported by 15 March and the figure is estimated on the basis of these.

² This is an average increase in reporting municipalities, where each municipality has the same weight. Total administration fees are however also dependant on the size of the municipality.