New canal harbour in Nykøbing Falster 

Before long Nykøbing Falster will have a new canal harbour with cafes, restaurants and private housing. The project reflects the trend in harbour area development currently under way worldwide.
The noise from the excavators is deafening. The main street, which runs down to the water’s edge, is being dug up to give an unobstructed view of Tingsted stream. And in another year the first residents will move into their flats in the new canal harbour development known as Slotsbryggen, overlooking the water.

Residents will again be able to hear the cry of the gulls and enjoy the serenity of the view over Guldborgsund, as the road system is being rerouted away from the harbour to offer residents and visitors a panoramic view of this delightful maritime environment free of intrusive traffic.

A nice little niche

Like many towns in Denmark, Nykøbing Falster wishes to develop its maritime environs by building an attractive residential quarter aimed at the senior population segment - primarily those living in the Copenhagen area. At present there is great interest in moving to the town, with 330 people on the list for the 130 residential units – a mix of owner-occupier, rental and cooperatively owned flats - that make up the new development.

"We cannot compete with Copenhagen,” says Martin Weis Holm, project manager for the Slotsbryggen development project and development consultant with the municipality of Nykøbing Falster. “But for those who wish to live close to the coast, the beach and the water, we can offer a nice little niche opportunity to do so.

Important to take the lead

"We can provide attractive accommodation that is comparably cheaper than in Copenhagen, yet we are only a 90-minute drive from Copenhagen city centre and can offer a wide range of cultural and leisure pursuits that you simply do not find in other towns of this size. In addition, we offer excellent business and educational opportunities."

The Slotsbryggen development will cost a projected DKK 150-200 million. However, the sale of some municipally owned land helped make the project economically feasible and in October 2003 the council voted in favour.

"Things are progressing well,” says John Brædder, local councillor and chairman of the Slotsbryggen liaison and project group. “It is important to the Lolland-Falster region that someone takes the lead. Not only in terms of getting a process rolling that will bring vitality and generate business throughout the area, but also because we firmly believe that the Fehmarn bridge connection with Germany, currently under consideration, will become a reality and provide a further boost to the region. So we need to be on our toes and provide the impetus required for our business development. If we do not succeed in encouraging people to stop and take a closer look at developments here, they will simply drive by."

By: Christina Tækker, cht@cowi.com
Posted: 25.05.2004


From harbour to urban environment  
1. Environment. The harbourside may have many old businesses already based there. Building residential units where noise and pollution may occur may give rise to an inherent environmental conflict. In addition, the ground may be polluted.

2. Installing water and drainage infrastructure etc. may well present technical challenges.

3. Consideration must be given to the foundations and geotechnical aspects, as the subsoil will usually be soft. This requires building foundations to be on piles.

4. Flats close to the water are fashionable – but costly. Building such housing and making it affordable for an average-income individual or family is difficult.

5. Infrastructure requirements will be different. This means planning for a different type of traffic.

6. The old harbour is a dead area. Revitalising it is a challenge. It is important to have a mix of commercial and residential properties.

7. New property development can drive old businesses out of the area.

8. It can be difficult to merge private homes with harbour surroundings unless a local plan is developed for the whole area which takes into account the housing development.

9. Quay facilities and sheet pile walls are often in a state of disrepair, necessitating new quay fronts and sheet piling.

10. Basement parking is often required below ground level, which in harbour areas means that basements are under constant water pressure. This makes the project more complex – and more expensive.