This is where the large residential area is to be built. Archival photo.
The plan is for around 400 new apartments and a multistorey car park to be built at Anderstorg. In the autumn of 2021, the municipality announced a procurement for the construction rights and 29 bids were received. In February 2022 it was announced that three companies had the winning bids and would build one block each. One of the companies would also build the multistorey car park.
However, none of the companies applied for a construction permit and last autumn Norran contacted the three companies to find out what had happened. One responded that they had backed out and two said that they would wait.
When Norran reported on the construction project again at the beginning of March, another one of the three companies had backed out. At the same time there were four new stakeholders.
– We have frequent discussions with five companies and hope to sign a contract in March or April, Lars Hedqvist, head of planning said at that time.
That did not come to fruition and Skellefteå municipality is now forced to think again. This means that a new procurement is announced in which companies are given the opportunity to place a bid.
Patrik Larsen is head of land and development at Skellefteå municipality. He says there are several reasons why companies who were previously interested have backed out.
– It’s primarily to do with the global situation, there are higher construction costs and higher interest rates than previously.
He also mentions the fact that the government investment aid, the purpose of which was for more rental apartments and homes for students to be built, was revoked at the end of the year.
– Overall it’s more difficult for companies to work on projects now compared to previously.
Patrik Larsen, head of land and development at Skellefteå municipality. Archival photo.
In the new procurement, the municipality has changed some of the conditions for the construction at Anderstorg. This includes the municipality building and owning the multistorey car park. There will also be an opportunity for the companies interested in building to rent the land rather than purchasing it.
Additionally, there will no longer be as strict demands on there being a mix of rental and tenant-owner’s right apartments.
– We’ve eased the demands a bit in that respect, says Patrik Larsen.
The new procurement process started about a week ago and will end in August. The municipality’s planning and hoping for the construction of homes to start next year.
– The idea is for construction to start in the third quarter of 2024.