City Council considers final lokalplan (local development plan) for up to 294 homes at Frydenlund Centret

On Wednesday 4 November 2026, Aarhus City Council will consider the recommendation for final adoption of Lokalplan 1165 and Amendment 22 to the Municipal Plan 2025. The plan allows for up to 294 homes and 3,000 m² of retail space on approx. 12,700 m² at Viborgvej, Frydenlunds Allé and Haslevangsvej.

What it means for you

If the byråd (city council) adopts the recommendation, the current Frydenlund Centret and two villa plots can be replaced by three new buildings along Viborgvej. Neighbours and businesses in Aarhus V thereby get a concrete benchmark for how the neighbourhood may be densified, while responses to consultation submissions on parking, traffic, overlooking and adaptation to the surroundings are set out in appendix 5.

Background

The lokalplan (local development plan) was prepared at the request of private landowners. The aim is to establish three buildings along Viborgvej and revitalise Frydenlund Centret. The plan enables up to 23,040 m² of development split across three sub-areas.

The area is today dominated by the former local shopping centre and the villas at Viborgvej 100 and Haslevangsvej 2. Realising the lokalplan requires demolition of the existing buildings. The new project replacing the centre is called «Karreen».

The draft plans were in public consultation from 1 July to 9 September 2025 and again from 23 April to 18 June 2026. In the second consultation, 41 submissions were received criticising the process and raising parking, traffic, overlooking, adaptation to the surroundings and overall urban development.

The byråd has considered the case several times before. Most recently, on 4 March 2026, the byråd approved changes from Technical and Environmental Affairs, and a majority wanted a higher parking requirement in sub-area III. The revised draft plans were sent out for a new round of consultation, among other reasons because of the transition from Municipal Plan 2017 to Municipal Plan 2025.

Technical and Environmental Affairs now recommends that Amendment 22 to Municipal Plan 2025 and Lokalplan 1165 be finally adopted with the changes set out in appendix 5, that the summary environmental assessment report be approved, that the proposed development agreement be approved, and that the consultation submissions be answered as in appendix 5.

On 27 October 2026, the magistrat (municipal executive) recommended that the byråd adopt the recommendation. Socialistisk Folkeparti, Liberal Alliance, Enhedslisten de Rød-Grønne and Danmarksdemokraterne entered reservations. Rådmand (alderman) Nicolaj Bang and rådmand Jesper Kjeldsen were unable to take part in the magistrat’s consideration of the item.

Figures and facts

• The lokalplan area is approx. 12,700 m² and lies at Viborgvej, Frydenlunds Allé and Haslevangsvej (Appendix — Recommendation).
• The plan enables up to 23,040 m² of development, a maximum of 294 homes and 3,000 m² of retail (Appendix — Recommendation).
• Sub-area I (Gårdhavehuset): max. 24 homes in 2–3 storeys. Sub-area II (Cykelhuset): max. 34 homes in two to three storeys. Sub-area III (Karréen): max. 236 homes totalling 17,360 m² (Appendix — Recommendation).
• Sub-area III requires at least 105 and up to 108 car parking spaces (Appendix — Recommendation).
• Public consultation: 1 July–9 September 2025 and 23 April–18 June 2026; 41 submissions in the second consultation (Appendix — Recommendation).
• On 27 October 2026, the magistrat recommended that the byråd adopt the recommendation; SF, LA, Enhedslisten de Rød-Grønne and Danmarksdemokraterne entered reservations (Agenda — Lokalplan 1165, Frydenlund Centret - Final).

Who said what

The debate has previously divided the byråd. When the proposal was introduced on 25 June 2025, Socialdemokratiet, SF, Venstre, Radikale Venstre and Danmarksdemokraterne backed sending the plan to consultation, while Enhedslisten did not support it. Jesper Kjeldsen (S) stressed that Frydenlundcenteret has long stood empty, but pointed to height, the façade towards Viborgvej and the wish for a mixed-use city (Appendix — Appendix 6: Transcript of the city council debate on adoption of the lokalplan proposal (25 June 2025)).

Solveig Munk (EL) at the time called the building too tall and dense and wanted, among other things, sub-areas I and II removed from the lokalplan. Metin Lindved Aydin (RV) called the project thoroughly worked through and pointed to the growth axis along the upcoming light rail line. Jakob Søgaard Clausen (DD) supported the transformation but entered reservations on densification, demolition of buildings worthy of preservation and parking (Appendix — Appendix 6: Transcript of the city council debate on adoption of the lokalplan proposal (25 June 2025)).

At the meeting on 4 March 2026, Socialdemokratiet maintained that the balance had been found with around 300 new homes in an area that «is thirsty to be changed for the better» (translated from Danish) (Appendix — Appendix 7: Transcript of the city council debate on consideration of the planning case in March (4 March 2026)). Albert Rosenkrantz Conradsen (SF) highlighted 56 predominantly negative consultation submissions and rejected six storeys and more parking spaces. Isabella Heilmann (EL) criticised height, overlooking and demolition of residential buildings worthy of preservation. Gert Bjerregaard (V) called the project «the art of the possible» (translated from Danish), while Jakob Søgaard Clausen (DD) called the lokalplan poor. Louise Svenstrup (LA) and Thomas Kastrup Christensen (DF) supported the recommendation at the time; Nicolaj Bang (KF) assessed that the project lifts a worn-down area (Appendix — Appendix 7: Transcript of the city council debate on consideration of the planning case in March (4 March 2026)).

What happens next

On Wednesday 4 November 2026, Aarhus City Council must decide whether it adopts Technical and Environmental Affairs’ recommendation of 5 October 2026 on final adoption of Lokalplan 1165 and Amendment 22 to Municipal Plan 2025, including the environmental report, development agreement and answers to consultation submissions. The magistrat’s recommendation is before the byråd with the reservations mentioned.

Sources

• Agenda — Lokalplan 1165, Frydenlund Centret - Final
• Appendix — Recommendation
• Appendix — Appendix 6: Transcript of the city council debate on adoption of the lokalplan proposal (25 June 2025)
• Appendix — Appendix 7: Transcript of the city council debate on consideration of the planning case in March (4 March 2026)
• Aarhus Municipality meeting documents — meeting
• Aarhus Kommune

Other appendices

• Appendix — Appendix 1: Proposal for Lokalplan 1165 and Amendment 22 to Municipal Plan 2025 incl. environmental report