Local authorities in Denmark allegedly declined the option to mandate developers to construct bunkers.
In a recent development, the Danish government and local authorities have announced a joint review of the condition and capacity of the nation's existing bomb shelters and bunkers. This move comes as part of a budgetary agreement reached in May [1].
The review will assess the current state of defense shelters in Denmark, a factor that has been termed "protection rooms" in Danish. However, it is worth noting that modern building codes in Denmark do not mandate the construction of bunkers in civilian structures. This is due to a variety of reasons, including the high technical and financial burden on developers, the decreased geopolitical risk perception, and the lack of legal requirements [1].
Historically, bunkers like the "Reagan West" nuclear bunker in Skorping, Denmark, were primarily government or military constructions, built to address Cold War-era threats. In contrast, contemporary building codes focus on usual safety and structural standards, omitting the need for specialized nuclear fallout shelters [1].
Despite this, the Minister for Civil Preparedness, Torsten Schack Pedersen, acknowledges the reasons why municipalities have not enforced the option to require bunkers in new buildings. He notes that bomb shelters have not been a priority for many years [1].
Interestingly, a survey of Danish municipalities revealed that none currently enforce the right to have bunkers included in new development plans. Instead, priorities such as elevator functionality, climate issues, and ensuring buildings are not constructed too low take precedence [1].
Johannes Lundsfryd Jensen, head of Climate and Environment at Kommunernes Landsforening (KL), adds that municipalities are currently preoccupied with responding to cyberattacks [1].
Last year, a review by the Danish Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) found that Denmark currently has space for around 3.6 million people or 61 percent of the population in shelters and bunkers. However, this capacity is not sufficient to accommodate the entire population [1].
The elected official, who is also the city mayor of Middelfart, has suggested that bomb shelters may need to be reconsidered in new construction projects. The current level of threat against Denmark is a relevant factor in the overall consideration of the review [1].
The agreement stresses the importance of maintaining an ongoing focus on civil defence, including in relation to defence shelters [1]. As the review unfolds, it remains to be seen how this focus will translate into policy changes and whether the construction of bunkers will become a more prominent feature in Danish urban planning.
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In light of the ongoing review of Denmark's defense shelters, it raises the question of whether the integration of bomb shelters could become a component in future construction projects, given the current geopolitical climate. Amidst the bustle of modern city planning, discussions on general-news topics, such as art, space, and politics, often take a backseat, but the review highlights the relevance of ensuring adequate protection spaces in urban infrastructure.
