What happened
The municipal executive board in Huddinge has approved the detailed development plans for the new district Vårby udde by Mälaren. The area will contain 2 100 homes, three preschools, nursing homes, and a school for 600 students in Spendrups' former headquarters. The buildings will be constructed across eleven blocks with between five and eight storeys. The Moderate Party, the Liberals, and the Christian Democrats voted against the proposal and demanded more larger tenant-owned apartments instead of smaller rentals. The municipal council will make the final decision on Monday, 19 October, and the entire construction is estimated to take 15 years.
Our analysis
Opposition councillor Love Bergström (M) justifies his opposition by stating that the area does not need more small rental apartments that extend the existing Million Programme. However, the usual debate misses who is locked out when rental apartments are opted out of in favor of more expensive tenant-owned apartments requiring large bank loans. Of the 2 100 planned homes, the threshold risks becoming too high for young adults and families who want to remain in Vårby. Municipal commissioner Emil Högberg (S) points out at the same time that the company Magnolia owns most of the land, meaning the municipality's politicians have limited power over what homes are actually built. On Monday, 19 October, the issue will be decided in the municipal council.
Explained
Form of tenure is the legal form for how one resides in a home, for example by renting an apartment as a rental tenancy or buying a share in an association as a tenant-owned apartment.