During 2021, Salem Municipality, assisted by Gehl Architects, produced a structural plan for the centre area. The vision is to create an attractive living environment with new housing, pedestrian and bicycle paths and a new civic hall. The plan covers ten blocks in total of approximately 80,000 sq.m. The starting shot is now being fired for the new zoning plan, which is expected to go out for consultation at the end of 2022.

The property company Balder has been allocated a larger proportion of the land in the plan and will act as the anchor developer. In accordance with the municipality’s wishes, Balder will construct about 350 apartments, divided among three blocks and involving various forms of tenure. In addition, the company has been commissioned to construct Salem’s new civic hall and a car park.

“The development of Salem’s town centre will mean a total change of the centre area and will contribute positively to the range of services in the district. Apart from the new civic hall, we are also providing modern apartments in various sizes and forms of tenure. Here, we are going to create a good living environment for the residents of Salem, green courtyards and places for play and socialising,” says David Johansson, Regional Manager at Balder.

The new town centre will strengthen the centre as a cultural and commercial meeting place in Salem Municipality. Development of existing qualities, combined with new urban spaces, paths and nodes should together create a lively town centre.

“It is very positive that Balder is involved and is taking an active role in developing Salem’s centre. We have good experience of each other since the construction of Bovieran in Salem which was completed in record time. The vision for Salem’s town centre is now starting to be realised, which is extremely exciting for the municipality’s residents and for us elected representatives,” says Lennart Kalderén, Chairman of the Municipal Executive Board (Moderate Party) in Salem Municipality.

Aside from Balder, HSB and Junior Living have obtained land allocations and will develop three residential blocks in the area. All in all, the three property companies will build around 600 apartments. Public land in the area, for example the urban park, will be developed by Salem Municipality.