70 Homes Will Be Removed From the Market in Svalbard
Three barracks will be taken off the rental market in Nybyen, Longyearbyen, in December. (Archive photo of Longyearbyen: the Norwegian Armed Forces)
In December this year, 70 homes will be removed from the rental market in Longyearbyen due to the risk of avalanches. The decision has elicited despair among the affected stakeholders.
Barracks 3, 4 and 9 in Nybyen in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, will be taken off the market in December this year. The buildings are rented by Svalbard Wildlife eiendom, Hurtigruten Svalbard and LNS Spitsbergen, respectively. The buildings are owned by Norges arktiske studentsamskipnad (the Norwegian Arctic student welfare organisation).
The decision has been made due to the risk of avalanches in the area.
There are a total of 70 residences in the aforementioned three barracks, which are rented out to employees within the local tourism and other industries.
Now, Svalbard næringsforening (Svalbard Business Association, ed. translation) and Svalbard reiselivsråd (Svalbard Tourism Council, ed. translation), coordinated by Visit Svalbard, have issued a request to the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security and the Ministry of Education and Research for an immediate meeting and an extension of the notice period.
Under pressure
The housing market in Longyearbyen is already under major pressure and the three barracks account for around five percent of the housing capacity in the city.
The Svalbard Business Association and the Svalbard Tourism Council write in their request to the ministries that there is currently no plan to replace these.
"In the short term, the housing shortage will thus be further exacerbated, which will significantly impact the private sector and its affected employees. This in turn could lead to a shortage of personnel, which in turn will affect activity in both the private and public sectors."
Ronny Brunvoll of Visit Svalbard. (Archive photo: Line Nagell Ylvisåker/High North News)
CEO of Visit Svalbard, Ronny Brunvoll, says to High North News that removing these homes from the market will lead to an exacerbated housing crisis.
"Among other things, this could lead to desperate individuals and employees being evicted from their homes on December 1st, hunting and competing for the already few alternatives out here. As a result, we can expect a further increase in prices in an already over-priced rental market," he says and continues:
"If there are no other opportunities available, Longyearbyen will experience further cramped conditions and poor and unworthy living conditions, in stark contrast to the authorities' party speeches about 'a responsible work life.' For those who are truly motivated to live here, I assume that they are willing to go to great lengths to avoid moving."
Infrastructure
Brunvoll also highlights the impact the lack of housing has on infrastructure projects. Barrack 9 is rented by LNS Spitsbergen and is used to house their employees, as well as external craftsmen. They work on various projects, such as asphalting, rehabilitation and construction projects.
"The city is facing many infrastructure projects in the coming years. Where will the workers live?" asks Brunvoll.
Avalanche control measures should be implemented.
He believes this is especially relevant as no permits have been given for construction barracks or craftsman hotels.
In addition, Brunvoll points to reduced activity in the business sector in general, as well as a likely reduction in profitability, which again leads to a lower tax revenue and an even more expensive community to run.
Avalanche risks
The decision to remove the homes from the market is primarily based on the risk of avalanches in the area. Brunvoll says that Nybyen has not been prioritized when it comes to avalanche control.
He also refers to the Svalbard white paper, in which the government says there are 'several reasons' for why Nybyen should not be inhabited, without any further explanation.
Do you disagree with the assessments made regarding the avalanche risk?
"No, not necessarily the risk assessment, that was conducted by experts that we in no way can contest. However, the authorities' decision not to carry out avalanche control can be discussed, and we obviously believe that avalanche control measures should also be implemented in Nybyen," replies Brunvoll.
Brunvoll highlights monitoring and evacuation as measures that can be implemented this winter, while the authorities are staking out the path for Nybyen.
"No avalanches have hit buildings in that area in almost 80 years, as far as we know. In recent years, a system has been developed for monitoring and evacuation during the winter, if the weather conditions warrant it," explains Brunvoll, adding:
"We believe this can be carried out next winter as well, with a risk far within the acceptable range. Then the coming year can be used to finally decide what will happen to Nybyen, and simultaneously provide private businesses and their employees with the possibility to adapt, which is impossible in the situation they are currently facing."
High North News will follow up on the matter.
