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BUSINESS

Denmark plans man-made islands to draw business

Denmark plans to build nine artificial islands in southern Copenhagen in a bid to attract businesses, the government announced on Monday, amid a housing and office space shortage.

Denmark plans man-made islands to draw business
An illustration shows the proposed construction of nine islands at Avedøre Holme. Photo: Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs/Handout via REUTERS/Ritzau Scanpix

The government and Hvidovre Municipality announced the plan, which will see an extension of the Avedøre Holme area south of the Danish capital, creating nine new islands to be given the collective name Holmene.

The primary purpose of the new islands will be to create industrial opportunity.

“We're targetting high-tech companies but there's always a need for the production of products we use in our daily lives too,” Industry and Business Minister Rasmus Jarlov told Ritzau.

Minister for Employment Troels Lund Poulsen called the project “visionary” and said it had the whole-hearted backing of the government.

“This will help to even better connect Copenhagen with the regions to its west and to the rest of Zealand. Copenhagen and the surrounding municipalities are an important driver of growth for the whole of Denmark,” Poulsen said to Ritzau.

Construction on the nine islands is scheduled to begin in 2022, covering an area of three million square metres and adding 17 kilometres to Denmark’s coastline.


An illustration shows the proposed nine islands at the Avedøre Holme coast. Photo: Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs/Handout via REUTERS/Ritzau Scanpix

The first plots of land will be sold in 2028 and the project, the financial details of which have not been disclosed, should be completed by 2040.

The aim is to attract some 380 companies to the area, located near Copenhagen airport.

“I think this could become a sort of European Silicon Valley,” the head of the Danish Chamber of Commerce, Brian Mikkelsen, told TV2 television.

The mammoth project follows another major infrastructure initiative announced last autumn, whereby 20,000 new homes will be built on a polder — low-lying land reclaimed from the sea — north of the capital.

That development, given the name Lynetteholmen, will rise from the Øresund waters between the Refshaleøen and Nordhavn areas and create homes for 35,000 people.

READ ALSO: Copenhagen to get artificial island and harbour tunnel in ambitious 50-year plan

COPENHAGEN

Are Copenhagen’s LED signs on the way out?

Copenhagen’s bright lights could be a little dimmer in future with the city government set to limit illuminated advertising.

Are Copenhagen’s LED signs on the way out?

Copenhagen Municipality’s city planning department (Teknik- og Miljøudvalget) is working on new rules which will put limits on where in the city large illuminated advertising can be placed.

There are currently 15 locations around the capital where LED and other illuminated advertising is permitted. Some of the most noticeable locations include Rådhuspladsen (City Hall Square), Kongens Nytorv and at the end of Nørrebrogade overlooking the lakes.

The city government wants to cut that number down to five locations, local media TV2 Kosmopol reports.

Under the planned change, it will only be possible to put up new illuminated ads at Rådhuspladsen as well as Nørreport, Vesterport, Hans Knudsens Plads and Kay Fiskers Plads.

The change would only apply to new signs, meaning existing ones in other locations will be allowed to stay in place.

“There has been very marked development of illuminated advertising in recent years with the use of LED lighting, which results in a much higher light intensity than what we had with classic neon tube signs,” the elected head of the city deparment, Line Barfod, told TV2 Kosmopol.

“These new illuminated advertisements are inconvenience city residents so we therefore have to regulate this area more restrictively,” she said, adding “the city is for people, not advertising.”

Restrictions will apply to large signs such as the type fixed to rooftops, the media writes.

The proposal is expected to be adopted because it has unanimous support in the city council (Borgerrepræsentationen).

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