OSLO A new dispute has emerged over housing policy in Norway. The Progress Party and the Conservative Party criticize the government for changing how it counts new homes.
The government now includes renovations in its official target for new housing. This adjustment means the number of new homes reported will rise even if no new buildings are constructed.
The opposition calls the move deceptive. FrP housing policy spokesman Hans Andreas Limi says the change hides the real shortage of new homes. Høyre’s housing chief Kristin Ørmen Johnsen agrees. She says the government is manipulating numbers to pretend progress is being made.
The government defends the change. Housing Minister Erling Sande says it reflects a broader definition of housing development. He argues that renovations also increase the housing supply. The minister did not explain why the change was made now, after years of using a different method.
The debate comes as housing prices remain high in major cities. Critics say the government’s focus on renovations instead of new construction will not solve the shortage of affordable homes.
Source: e24.no