According to NRK Buskerud, the State Administrator has maintained an objection since 2023 to the municipality's plan to build on the LNF site, effectively vetoing construction unless the objection is withdrawn or overturned by the ministry. The municipality has twice asked the administrator to withdraw the objection, but the administrator states the nature on the site is of national interest.
The municipality argues that the alternative site (alternative 1) is too expensive, with an estimated cost of 40 to 60 million kroner in 2022, and has reassessed the price difference, keeping the valuations confidential. However, the State Administrator has not accepted the price difference as sufficient reason to build on the LNF site. In a statement, the administrator said that sufficiently good arguments have not been presented to choose the LNF site over the alternative.
The area that is desired to be used for the fire station constitutes an important natural and recreational area where the natural values are of national interest. In the choice between site alternatives 1 and 3, we believe that sufficiently good arguments have not been presented to indicate that alternative 3 should be chosen over alternative 1.
The parties must now enter mediation, causing further delays. If mediation fails, the case may be decided by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. If the municipality cannot build on the preferred site, the process would restart from the beginning, and the municipality would need to invest several million kroner in the old fire station.
We see it as difficult to weigh this factor.