A 120-160 room luxury hotel and resort, complete with a golf-course, swimming pool and geothermal greenhouse which was to be constructed right on the edge of Þingvellir National Park has been rejected by the local municipal authority. The hotel was to be situated outside the National Park, but the local authority rejected the plan on the grounds that it was too close to the National Park, and would dramatically alter the view and landscape.
Investors acquire farm, make plans for giant development
In October the developer had presented plans for a hotel which was supposed to include a four or five star luxury resort as well as a three star hotel, a campsite, a geothermal swimming pool and a greenhouse as well as a 18 hole golf course. The hotel was to be located in the land of Skálabrekka farm, which is on the western bank of Þingvallavatn lake, south of the National Park.
Read more: Investors who had hoped to buy Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon blast its inclusion in National Park
The plans were first discussed in 2011 after a group of investors purchased the land in question and started to make plans for a luxury resort. Among the investors was an Icelandic citizen of Indian descent who owns several hotels in India.
Would have changed the landscape irreparably
While the hotel was to be located outside the National Park the local municipal authority argued the hotel was to be far too large to be located this close to the park. The hotel would have a dramatic impact on the view from the park. Serious questions about sewage treatment and pollution from a hotel of this size had also been left unanswered. A project of this size would have to undergo an environmental impact assessment.
The local authority stressed that it had not rejected the plan to build a hotel at the site, only a hotel of this size. The mayor of the municipality told the National Broadcasting Service that the a smaller hotel could potentially be approved.
A 120-160 room luxury hotel and resort, complete with a golf-course, swimming pool and geothermal greenhouse which was to be constructed right on the edge of Þingvellir National Park has been rejected by the local municipal authority. The hotel was to be situated outside the National Park, but the local authority rejected the plan on the grounds that it was too close to the National Park, and would dramatically alter the view and landscape.
Investors acquire farm, make plans for giant development
In October the developer had presented plans for a hotel which was supposed to include a four or five star luxury resort as well as a three star hotel, a campsite, a geothermal swimming pool and a greenhouse as well as a 18 hole golf course. The hotel was to be located in the land of Skálabrekka farm, which is on the western bank of Þingvallavatn lake, south of the National Park.
Read more: Investors who had hoped to buy Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon blast its inclusion in National Park
The plans were first discussed in 2011 after a group of investors purchased the land in question and started to make plans for a luxury resort. Among the investors was an Icelandic citizen of Indian descent who owns several hotels in India.
Would have changed the landscape irreparably
While the hotel was to be located outside the National Park the local municipal authority argued the hotel was to be far too large to be located this close to the park. The hotel would have a dramatic impact on the view from the park. Serious questions about sewage treatment and pollution from a hotel of this size had also been left unanswered. A project of this size would have to undergo an environmental impact assessment.
The local authority stressed that it had not rejected the plan to build a hotel at the site, only a hotel of this size. The mayor of the municipality told the National Broadcasting Service that the a smaller hotel could potentially be approved.
