From groundbreaking to move-in in seven months

On site for the ceremonial groundbreaking were Fredrik Anheim, CEO of Surewood Housing, Béatrice Öman, Municipal Commissioner of Boden, and Susanne Olofsson, CEO of Norrlandsfonden Bostadsfinansiering AB.

The project marks Surewood Housing’s first investment in Boden. Founded in 2023, the company develops, builds and manages residential properties. The new townhouses will largely be manufactured at the company’s factory in Småland before being transported to Boden and assembled on site.

This is also the key to the unusually short period between the start of construction and the planned move-in date.

“We build fully finished housing modules in the factory while the groundwork is being carried out here in Boden. By the time the modules arrive, the kitchens, bathrooms, interior finishes and installations are already in place. This means very little work remains once they reach the site, allowing us to build very quickly,” says Fredrik Anheim.

Building simultaneously in Boden and Småland

Groundwork in Prästholmen will begin during the autumn and is scheduled to be completed before Christmas. At the same time, production of the housing modules will begin in Småland. Once the site has been prepared, assembly of the homes can begin.

The industrialised construction method also means that a large share of the production takes place indoors, making the process less vulnerable to the winter weather of northern Sweden.

“The important thing is to complete the groundwork before it gets too cold. After that, much of the work has already been completed indoors at the factory. That is a key reason why we can aim to have the homes ready for tenants to move in as early as 1 April.”

Townhouses for couples and families

The 41 homes will be rental townhouses in two sizes, approximately 70 and 90 square metres. They will have either two or three bedrooms, with space-efficient layouts designed primarily for couples and families.

The larger homes, measuring around 90 square metres, will have three bedrooms upstairs, while the kitchen, living room and bathroom will be located on the ground floor. The smaller homes, at approximately 70 square metres, will have two or three bedrooms.

“The economics of residential construction are challenging today. That means we need both to build cost-effectively and to create space-efficient homes that provide as much functionality and value as possible,” he says.

Surewood plans not only to build the homes but also to retain ownership and manage them over the long term.

And the company’s ambitions in Boden may extend beyond the 41 townhouses in Prästholmen.

“We see a significant need for housing in Boden, driven by both Stegra and the expansion of the Swedish Armed Forces. We hope this will be the first step in a larger investment. Together with Boden Municipality, we are also looking at other potential locations, and we would very much like to build and own more properties in Boden in the future.”

“It could be an icebreaker”

Norrlandsfonden Bostadsfinansiering AB has a mandate to help increase housing construction in communities where major industrial investments are creating demand for more homes. Susanne Olofsson describes Boden as a particularly interesting location, as demand is being driven by the expansion of both industry and the Swedish Armed Forces.

“For people to be able to move here and take up the new jobs, housing also needs to be available. Our role is to help get projects started and provide the security needed for more developers to take the step and build. Once construction gains momentum, it can create a positive cycle,” says Susanne Olofsson.

In Surewood’s project, Norrlandsfonden identified several factors that made the investment particularly attractive: a viable business case, an industrialised construction method, and strong experience and financial stability behind the company.

Olofsson also sees the decision by another housing developer from a different part of Sweden to invest in Boden as positive from a broader perspective.

“It is very encouraging to see a developer from southern Sweden willing to take the step and carry out a project here. We are also seeing growing interest through the enquiries we receive from companies exploring opportunities to build. This project could serve as something of an icebreaker,” she says.

She also highlights the municipality’s long-term efforts to create the right conditions for housing development.

“Boden has worked very purposefully. There is a readiness to make decisions, as well as land that can quickly be made available for development. That level of preparedness is an important reason why a project like this can move from planning to construction in such a short period of time.”

New homes are needed quickly

For Boden Municipality, the timeline is particularly significant. The low vacancy rate in the rental market means that new housing needs to become available as new jobs are created in industry, the Swedish Armed Forces and other parts of the local economy.

“The need for housing is substantial, which is why it is so positive that we are not simply talking about future plans but are actually standing here breaking ground. The fact that Surewood also aims to have 41 new homes available as early as April is extremely important given the situation Boden is currently in,” says Béatrice Öman, Municipal Commissioner of Boden.

According to Öman, the fact that construction can begin so soon after the building permit was granted is not simply the result of work on this individual project.

“Behind every groundbreaking lies years of long-term work. For several years, we have worked to ensure that we have strong planning readiness, available land and an organisation capable of supporting developers that want to invest and build in Boden. We are now seeing in very concrete terms what that preparedness can achieve when a developer is ready to move from decision to construction.”

She also welcomes Surewood’s announcement that the company sees opportunities for further projects in Boden.

“We need both homes here and now and developers who believe in Boden for the long term. That is why it is very encouraging that Surewood is not only building these 41 townhouses but is already exploring opportunities to continue investing in Boden,” says Öman.