Classic Residential District May Be Demolished to Make Way for Apartments

In Nacka, a company wants to demolish much of the area’s classic villas to make room for hundreds of new apartments. This would mean a total transformation of the residential district, which not everyone views positively, and now the next step has been taken.

RO Properties has bought around 20 villas in Birka, one of Nacka’s oldest residential areas, featuring well-preserved multi-family villas built between 1890 and 1920. Their plan is to demolish these and then build 900 apartments together with Urban Partners.

“Just over 20 villas cannot remain. But at least one will be moved and we are exploring how we can reuse the others,” said RO Properties founder Peter Barnholdt to Mitt i in December.

Besides the demolition of 26 villas, 5,000 square meters of natural and parkland will also disappear. Some of the apartment buildings planned will be up to nine stories high—a concept that not everyone welcomes. There is also significant political division, with the local party Nackalistan leading the opposition.

“The project has a serious impact on both the natural and cultural environments, especially in relation to the area’s topography and the valuable heritage buildings that risk negative effects,” said Lina Olsson (NL) when the environment and urban planning committee decided last year to send the proposal for consultation.

The Moderates, Liberals, Centre Party, Social Democrats, Left Party, and Green Party are all in favor. The Christian Democrats were initially hesitant but have since sided with Nackalistan.

“This is a unique situation where an area gets completely new conditions due to a subway entrance in the vicinity and a high exploitation rate locally. If it were any other residential area in Nacka, such a transformation would not even be considered,” said Disa Påhlman Nilsson (M).

Natural and Cultural Environments

Birka is one of Nacka’s oldest residential communities from the turn of the last century and is now threatened by exploitation. The project would have a serious impact on both natural and cultural environments, especially regarding the area’s topography and its valuable historic buildings that risk negative effects. Despite intentions to integrate these values into the new development, the scale of the project is much too high and will destroy the distinct character of the area. This is Nackalistan’s stance on the plans, which the party has maintained since 2024.

However, last week, a step was taken toward making the project a reality when the environment and urban planning committee voted to move forward with 11 votes to 2.

“We want to preserve Nacka’s oldest residential area because it is beautiful and worth saving, but also because it could set a precedent. What would prevent new homeowners from selling and converting other fine areas of Nacka in the future?” said Angelika Lang (KD) to Nacka Värmdö Posten ahead of the vote.

Want to Sell

The majority of property owners in the area between Värmdövägen and Värmdöleden west of the Nacka fire station reportedly want to sell their plots to RO Properties.

The program will now move on to the municipal board for adoption, which is likely to happen in June. After that, the plan is for the environment and urban planning committee to begin detailed planning work, with the process expected to be completed within three years.