Background & Purpose
Rules governing construction near lakes and seas have often been seen as too restrictive, prompting the government to propose changes while the opposition submitted around forty counter-proposals.
The Decision
The Swedish parliament approved the government's proposal for relaxed shoreline protection and rejected all counter-proposals from the opposition, paving the way for easier construction near certain waters.
Does this affect you?
- Property owners near small waters: They gain new opportunities to build and develop properties near smaller lakes and streams that are no longer protected.
- Aquaculture businesses: Fish and shellfish farmers benefit from more generous exemptions allowing them to operate in shore areas.
- Rural municipalities: They receive simplified tools to decide on shoreline protection rules when adopting new local development plans.
In Practice
- Small lakes and newly created artificial waters are removed from the general shoreline protection.
- It becomes easier to build and carry out projects in areas close to shores.
- Aquaculture businesses, such as fish and shellfish farms, gain more generous exemptions.
- Municipalities can more easily decide not to reinstate shoreline protection when creating new local development plans.