The story in a nutshell: Developer Scala Eiendom plans to build 350 housing units and new office and commercial space in an area prone to embarrassment at Strandtorget in Lillehammer. The area was badly hit during the extreme weather “Hans”. Large parts of the area are still under water. The developer plans to raise the houses to a flood-proof level. Lillehammer municipality will require the developer to comply with the rules in the Planning and Building Act. Preparedness researcher Bjørn Tallak Bakken believes it is a bad idea to build in a flood-prone area, even if one takes height for flood. The insurance company Fremtind warns that the price of insurance in such areas may increase. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – What we see today is not pleasant for anyone, but we have always been aware that this could be a future scenario. That’s what Scala Eiendom’s director of development, Fredrik Myhre, says about the area at Strandtorget in Lillehammer which is covered by stagnant water. Here they want to build a new district with 350 homes and new office and commercial space. DEVELOPERS: Development director at Scala Eiendom, Fredrik Myhre, says that they are working on a concept together with Lillehammer municipality. Photo: Sunniva Linjord / news During the extreme weather “Hans” and the floods that followed, large parts of this area were under water. The shopping center nearby is still closed due to the storm. But Scala Eiendom will not let that stop the plans. – We are working with a concept together with the municipality for the development of Strandtorget which takes into account the 200-year anniversary and the current legislation, says Myhre. SHOULD BE RAISED: Development director at Scala Eiendom, Fredrik Myhre, says the area has slightly different heights, but that they should raise the homes to a flood-proof level. Photo: Scala eiendom Will make demands Urban developer in Lillehammer municipality, Wenche Haug Almestrand, says they will make demands on the developer to consider the rules in the Planning and Building Act. – Both a residential area and a parking area are planned. The parking lot must be repaired to 20-year-old condition, while the residential buildings must be maintained to 200-year-old condition, she says. REQUIREMENTS: Urban developer in Lillehammer municipality, Wenche Haug Almestrand says that they demand that current rules and plans are followed. Photo: Reidar Gregersen / news At a 200-year flood, the water level in Mjøsa at Strandtorget is 127 metres. The municipality has set a limit of 3-4 meters above this level. Now, when Mjøsa is at the orange level for flume, the water level is 124.5 metres. FLAUM: This is what it looks like at Strandtorget no. Even though the area is in shambles, the plan is for new housing. Photo: Reidar Gregersen / news – The water level in Mjøsa is now below the level they assumed at a 200-year flood. Nevertheless, the area is covered by water today. How then do they think it is possible to build flood-proof in the area? – We adhere to the current law, and all new construction for residential accommodation must be established above the level of the 200-year-old plume. This can be done in a combination of raising the terrain and establishing parking above the current ground level, says Myhre in Scala Eiendom. He adds that it is not possible to secure 100 per cent against flounder in the area. – We have known all along that the Strandtorget area is vulnerable, and that is why we are working together with the municipality to find solutions to this. Problem situation in several places All over the country, a lot is being built near watercourses and in flood-prone areas, according to Øyvind Leirset. He is section leader for land and the planning section in Norway’s Water and Energy Directorate (NVE). – There are many cities and towns that are located by watercourses or close to watercourses. Fluency in relation to housing construction is a problem in many places. PROBLEM: A lot is being built near watercourses and in flood-prone areas, says section leader for land and the planning section at NVE, Øyvind Leirset. The picture is from Dokka in Inlandet during the extreme weather “Hans”. Photo: Theodor Eilertsen The plans for development at Strandtorget in Lillehammer have not been put on the NVE’s table yet. – Therefore, I cannot say whether the plans and the level of security they have laid down are good enough. He says that the ministry has asked NVE and two other directorates to look at whether the current limit for 200-year flume is straight forward and whether it provides the right level of safety. – It may be that there are some changes, but that is what is in the current regulations, says Leirset. INFORMED: The camp says that those working with the project at Strandtorget in Lillehammer have been informed about both the regulations and the flume calculations. Here from the calculations for Mjøsa in 2022. Photo: Even Lusæter / news – Bad idea Bjørn Tallak Bakken, who is an associate professor at Høgskulen i Innlandet, on the other hand, believes that it is stupid to build in this area. – Generally speaking, it can be said that planning to build in an area prone to embarrassment is a bad idea. He has preparedness, crisis management and social security as his field of expertise. Bakken explains that even if a height is taken so that the building is at a flood-safe height, future floods will be able to exceed these levels. PREPAREDNESS RESEARCHER: Bjørn Tallak Bakken says we will experience floods more often in the future. Photo: HÅVARD MADSBAKKEN – We know that 50-, 100- and 200-year anniversary celebrations will come more often, says Bakken. He says, on the other hand, you can take several measures such as building flume embankments or buildings that must tolerate moisture. – The surroundings will still mean that the road to the building can be closed, and then it is the same distance, he says. CLOSED: Large amounts of water caused the shopping center and other businesses on Strandtorget to close. The shopping center is still closed. Photo: Aleksandr Nedbaev / news The politicians in Lillehammer want to facilitate development. Swipe to read what some of them think. Knut Arne Vassdokken (Ap) Leader of the planning committee in Lillehammer municipality, Knut Arne Vassdokken (Ap), acknowledges that the area is demanding in terms of the risk of flounder. – It will be demanding measures to bring about development. But if consideration is given to the 200-year mark, and developers manage to solve it, then there is an opening, he says. Astrid Gaassand (Frp) Municipal council representative for the Frp in Lillehammer thinks the planned development could be interesting for the city. – If they manage, and want, to invest in the area, then we have to make arrangements to make it happen. They have exciting plans, and it will develop the city quite a lot, she says. Gaassand emphasizes that this applies if it is done in accordance with current regulations. Marius Sunde (MDG)Mayor candidate for MDG in Lillehammer, Marius Sunde, is somewhat positive about the development, even though MDG is generally against intervention in the beach zone. – We are initially skeptical about development, but being able to clean the land and limit toxic runoff to Mjøsa in the future can be positive, says Sunde. Insurance company: – The price may increase Director of Communications at Fremtind forsikring, Kristin Vetleseter, says that the price of insurance may increase in such areas. – If the area is more exposed to water damage than others, now and in the future, the price may increase, says Vetleseter. The fact that the developers themselves set higher requirements to meet the risk, she believes, is positive. CAN INCREASE: Director of Communications at Fremtind forsikring, Kristin Vetleseter, says the price of insurance can increase in an area such as Strandtorget. Photo: Privat But she believes that the municipalities must now, together with NVE and other specialists, ask the uncomfortable questions about whether to build in such areas. – In this specific case, we know that the risk of fraud is high. With this insight, one should perhaps ask whether new assessments should be made? – In general, we believe that municipalities should not give in to pressure to build on plots where the risk of landslides and landslides is high, says Vetleseter.
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The area is under water after the flood – now it can become a new district
