Activists sue to halt Norway’s 63bn build

The construction of new Rikshospitalet and Aker hospitals in Oslo faces a legal challenge. Campaign group Redd Ullevål claims the building decisions breach EU environmental rules and is demanding an immediate halt.

Campaign group Redd Ullevål has taken the Norwegian government to court in a bid to halt the construction of new Rikshospitalet and Aker hospitals in Oslo. The trial opened at Oslo District Court on Tuesday.

The group claims the construction decisions are unlawful and breach an EU directive on environmental assessment. It is seeking an immediate injunction to stop all building work pending a final ruling. In April, the group received partial backing from the EFTA Court.

Planning and construction have already cost NOK 10 billion, with work underway at both Gaustad and Aker ahead of a planned completion in 2032. The total cost of the two hospitals could exceed NOK 63 billion.

The government argues that halting construction would be entirely disproportionate.

“A temporary halt would be extremely expensive for Helse Sør-Øst. They are bound by all the contracts they have signed with their contractors, meaning they would still have to pay even if construction were to stop,” lawyer Ida Thue told NRK.

The campaign group maintains it is not too late to change course and points to a plan for reusing the work already carried out at both sites.