Municipal management of planning and building applications, 2005-2006

These results are taken from KOSTRA 2006, preliminary figures. Slightly more than 700¹ exemptions were granted, compared to 1024 in 2005. The share of applications granted fell from 72 to 69 per cent.

The statistics only include exemptions for new buildings. The high level of approval may be partly explained by the practice in some municipalities, where 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 a full picture of the level of development in the coastal zone. In 2006, slightly more than 1200 applications for new buildings in the coastal zone were granted in accordance with municipal plans, compared to about 1740 in 2005 (see also Development in the shore zone ).

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. To safeguard national interests, the central authorities object to municipal plans if they are in conflict with national interests.

The central authorities objected to 20 per cent of all municipal plans circulated for consultation in 2006. About half of the objections were due to environmental considerations (figure 2). About 40 per cent were due to transport, planning and other considerations, while the rest were due to industrial considerations, of which agriculture and forestry dominated.

KOSTRA does not contain information on the results of these objections. The municipalities may either comply; negotiate with the objecting authority, or a final decision is taken in the Ministry of the Environment.

Users pay more

In 2006, gross expenses for land use planning amounted to NOK 2.16 billion, or NOK 461 per capita. The municipalities’ gross income covered NOK 1.36 billion of these expenses. From 2005, gross expenses rose by 8 per cent, while the income increased by 12 per cent. This gap has prevailed over the last years.

The increased income is reflected in the increase in administration fees. The fees for regulation plans, building plans and subdivision of land including survey increased last year by 16, 9 and 4 per cent² respectively. This is substantially higher than the general inflation.

The processing time for zoning plans, building projects and subdivision of land have remained relatively stable over the last years

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 shore zone , and Local environmental efforts in municipalities and county authorities.

¹ Approximately 80 per cent of the municipalities had reported by 15 March., and the figure is estimated on the basis of reported data.

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

Tables:

• Table 1 Building project applications in areas of particular environmental value
• Table 2 Average processing time and administration fee for regulation plans, building plans and subdivision of land including survey. By inhabitants in the municipality
• Table 3 Case load of regulation plans, building plans and subdivision of land including survey. Weighted average
• Table 4 Share of municipalities with plan for biological diversity, outdoor recreation and preservation of cultural heritage. Average age of plans in the year of reporting
• Table 5 Municipal expenses, revenues and investments within land use planning (function 301, 302 og 303)
• Table 6 Applications for exemptions relating to the cultural heritage act and the planning and building act
• Table 7 Number of county authorities with existing plan for different topics. Average age of the plans in the year of reporting
• Table 8 Gross operating expenses, operating revenues and investments in local and regional development - area and nature (function 715). County authorities. 1 000 NOK