Norway housing industry warns government will miss 2030 construction targets

The Norwegian construction industry is warning that the government is unlikely to meet its target of 130,000 new housing permits by 2030. Industry leaders from NHO Byggenæringen and NBBL have criticized the national budget, stating that the government is failing to provide the necessary housing supply. Specifically, representatives noted that the lending framework for Husbanken remains stagnant for 2027, which they argue hinders new construction during a period of falling sales and rising costs.

Minister of Local Government and Modernization Bjørnar Skjæran acknowledged that the government is behind schedule, noting only 21,804 permits were issued in 2025. While Skjæran stated he is not ‘stressed’ by the delay, he admitted that reaching the target will require a significant increase in annual permits for the remainder of the decade. To address the slowdown, the government has announced a 61 million NOK housing package within the state budget. This includes funding for the digitalization of processes, the merger of Husbanken with the Directorate for Building Quality, and improvements to Husbanken’s system solutions.