OSLO — Norway’s government now counts converted buildings as new housing in its plan to build 130,000 homes by 2030. Housing Minister Bjørnar Skjæran of the Labour Party made the claim in a recent speech. Neither the National Institute of Population and Housing Research nor the Norwegian Homebuilders Association had heard this approach before.
Skjæran’s announcement came during a meeting with industry leaders in Oslo last week. He said the government would include renovated offices, warehouses and hotels in the total count. The ministry did not provide a breakdown of how many conversions would qualify.
The National Institute of Population and Housing Research confirmed it had not been consulted on the change. The group’s director, Kari Skjåk Bræk, said the policy shift was unexpected. The Norwegian Homebuilders Association also said it was unaware of the new interpretation.
Opposition politicians called the move a creative accounting trick. Conservative Party housing spokesman Erlend Grøtvedt said the government was inflating numbers to meet its target. He argued that only new construction should count toward the goal.
The government has not released details on how it will verify the conversions. The plan remains under review in Parliament.
Source: e24.no