Planning description for Heiðmörk in Urban Planning Portal
A planning description for a new Heiðmörk land-use plan is now available in the Planning Agency's Urban Planning Portal. This is a proposed land-use plan for Heiðmörk by Reykjavík City. You can submit comments until July 2.
Heiðmörk will continue to be an accessible outdoor recreation area that works in harmony with water protection, and the guiding principle for creating the land-use plan for Heiðmörk is:
- to ensure the safety and unchanged quality of groundwater for the long term while the area continues to serve outdoor recreation in harmony with water protection.
In other ways, the land-use plan's goals are diverse.
Heiðmörk has the water collection area for Reykjavík residents and serves as a popular outdoor recreation area in Reykjavík. The area plays an important role in the public health of capital area residents and covers more than 3,000 hectares, including Rauðhólar.
Over the past months, Reykjavík City has worked to develop a new land-use plan for Heiðmörk in collaboration with Veitur Utilities, the Reykjavík Forestry Association, Reykjavík Energy and Reykjavík Public Health.
Discussion and consultation with service users
The work for the land-use plan is led by the Reykjavík Planning Officer, who has also held productive discussions with area service users and stakeholders and will continue these conversations throughout the planning process.
The land-use plan area covers about 23.5 square kilometers and is bordered by Suðurlandsvegur to the north, the Bugða river, Elliðavatn lake and Kópavogur municipal boundaries to the west, the old Heiðmörk fence line to the east, and Garðabær municipal boundaries to the south.
Besides Reykjavík, the Heiðmörk area also falls under two other municipalities – Garðabær and Kópavogur – but this land-use plan will only cover Reykjavík's portion of Heiðmörk.
Guiding principles and objectives
It's important to strengthen connections between developed areas and Heiðmörk, emphasizing good links to the public transportation system and sustainable travel options.
One goal of the land-use plan is to reduce vehicle traffic in the water protection buffer area to prevent possible pollution accidents. How these restrictions will be designed and carried out is part of the land-use plan's scope of work. Outdoor recreation starting points need to be clearly defined with detailed information about the area.
Risk assessment underway
Work is underway on a specialized risk assessment to evaluate factors in the area that could potentially cause water pollution. The assessment findings will then be used to develop countermeasures that reduce the risk of pollution in the area.
The planning description for a new land-use plan in the Urban Planning Portal allows the public, organizations and institutions to submit comments and suggestions through July 2. This deadline has been extended.
According to the timeline, a working proposal will then be presented in October through December, and stakeholders will have the opportunity to send comments in January and February 2026. The land-use plan could then receive final approval in March 2026.