A massive development plan for Oslo's Skullerud area is finally moving forward after ten years of delays. The project will transform an industrial zone into a residential neighborhood with 1,500 new homes.
Currently, over 200 businesses operate between Østmarka forest and the Skullerud metro station. No one lives in the area today. Developer Anders Opsahl has spent years acquiring properties piece by piece to make this vision possible.
Opsahl grew up on Skullerud farm and wants to create something lasting. "I will build something very good that can stand for generations," he said in a statement.
The developer promises attractive, social housing that ordinary people can afford. The new district will sit near both forest and public transportation.
This represents one of Oslo's largest urban development projects in recent memory. The city faces constant pressure to create more housing as its population grows. Converting industrial land to residential use offers one solution to the housing shortage.
Local residents have watched these plans evolve for a decade. Many wonder if this time the project will actually happen. The developer now says all pieces are in place to begin construction.
What took so long? Complex property ownership and multiple stakeholders slowed progress. Opsahl's method of buying individual plots allowed him to consolidate control over the entire area.
The project highlights Oslo's ongoing transformation from industrial zones to mixed-use neighborhoods. As the city expands, former commercial areas increasingly become residential districts.
Will 1,500 homes make a difference in Oslo's tight housing market? They represent a substantial addition, though demand continues to outpace supply throughout the Norwegian capital.