Housing
Norway has a strong tradition of home ownership. It will be the Government’s objective to enable most people to own their own homes. There are still many who encounter barriers to the housing market. It is therefore a public task to pursue a proactive social housing policy.
The Norwegian population is growing rapidly, especially in the major cities. Thus, there will be a considerable demand for more housing in the years to come. The Government will create the best possible framework for building more housing. Public regulation should not unnecessarily delay or increase the cost of building housing. The Government will ensure more rapid processing of building applications and simplify the Planning and Building Act.
The Government will make it easier for municipalities to allow more housing construction, and make it easier for developers to keep pace with demand. The Government will simplify the technical building regulations in cooperation with the building industry. The ability of central government authorities to lodge objections that inhibit zoning for housing and local freedom of action will be restricted, and there will be better coordination of such objections.
The Government will:
Strengthen ownership rights.
Simplify the Planning and Building Act and appurtenant regulations.
Simplify the requirements for rental property.
Establish a permanent building costs programme in cooperation with the industry.
Build more housing units for students and simplify regulations to facilitate cooperation with private actors.
Remove the residence requirement.
Reinforce the home savings scheme for young people (BSU).
Ensure satisfactory framework conditions for building housing.
Encourage housing development near centrally located public-transport hubs in cities and towns, and in centrally located areas where the development will give rise to fewer land-use conflicts.
Review the effect of building regulations with regard to prices and construction activities for the smallest housing units.
Ensure an appropriate and flexible housing allowance scheme.
Practise the requirements for home purchaser equity in a flexible manner that takes into account the purchaser’s financial situation.Regions and districts
Norway is a land of great variety and diversity. An important objective of regional policy is to preserve and further develop this diversity. The Government will create a foundation for growth throughout Norway as a whole.
The most important factor for ensuring dynamic regions throughout the country is a business sector that can safeguard and create profitable workplaces. The framework conditions for Norwegian industry comprise the most important regional policy instrument. The Government will therefore eliminate and reduce regulations that prevent people from making use of what the country has to offer.
Norway extends far to the north. Much of our internationally competing industry is located outside the major cities. The Government will reduce the disadvantages imposed by location, including transport costs, through large-scale upgrading of the main roads. The Government will also increase investment in other forms of infrastructure.
The Government will:
Give priority to instruments that can promote innovation and business start-ups in all parts of the county, with an emphasis on entrepreneurship.
Delegate and decentralise more responsibility and more tasks to the municipalities.
Strengthen infrastructure to make larger parts of the country more accessible.
Strengthen existing growth potential where it is found and at the same time safeguard the basis for good living conditions in all parts of the country.
Transfer the responsibility for management of protected areas to the municipalities.
Allow the municipalities to decide on matters related to the use of motor vehicles on uncultivated land.
Allow the municipalities to issues development licenses to small-scale, micro- and mini-hydropower plants and to small-scale wind farms.The major cities
The major cities are crucial for the development of the various regions. The Government will
therefore pursue an active urban centre policy for these cities and a new regional policy in which the major cities and the surrounding regions establish collaborative efforts to their mutual benefit. The Government will design solutions in consultation with these cities, through dialogue and partnership.
There is great potential for development based on the cities’ high concentration of competence and innovative power.
The major cities are facing a number of major social challenges that are specific to them. The high cost level, for example of housing, has a major impact on people on low incomes. The cities have the highest crime rates. They must deal with greater social challenges and poverty problems, but they are also better equipped to deal with these challenges. The Government will provide the cities with better opportunities to combat these problems on their own, in cooperation with the central government. The cities must be provided with significantly more room for manoeuvre through greater freedom from close central government control.
The population of the urban areas is rising , and is expected to increase sharply in the years to come.
This should be reflected in transport policy. The Government will therefore undertake major investment in infrastructure in and around the largest cities. The Government will ensure that the existing Reward Scheme for public transport in the largest cities is based on objective criteria and documentable results.
The Sámi and national minorities
The Government’s goal is that indigenous peoples and minorities should be allowed to develop their language, their culture and their communities. Norway’s national minorities include people of Kven, Jewish, Forest Finn, Roma and Romani descent.
It is important and enriching for Norway to preserve the Sámi language, culture and traditions.
Norwegian and Sámi have equal standing as languages. At the same time, it is essential to have a shared linguistic platform. The Government will develop Sámi business, including tourism, linked to Sámi culture and traditional Sámi industries.
Arctic agriculture has a large potential for niche production that all actors in this industry should be able to develop. The Government will help to make enjoyment of the natural surroundings in North Norway available to all.
The Government will: