Application for an environmental permit

To enable construction of the MAXIMA wastewater treatment system to begin, VA SYD must apply for and obtain permits in accordance with Chapters 9 and 11 of the Environmental Code. This is an extensive process that includes several steps. A public referral period is currently underway, during which anyone may submit their views to the Land and Environment Court.

VA SYD’s application for an environmental permit for MAXIMA comprises about 3,000 pages and is the result of several years of thorough preliminary studies, including a new consultation process and investigations carried out in collaboration with experts in various fields. The application was submitted to the Land and Environment Court in Växjö in May 2025. In order for the case to proceed to review, the court requested additional information, which was submitted in early March 2026.

The court has now assessed the application as complete and announced this in the local press on 16 April, 2026. This marked the start of the court’s referral period, during which anyone may submit comments to the court. The referral period is expected to continue until the turn of May/June. After that, work will begin on addressing the submitted comments, and those who have provided input will be given the opportunity to review the responses. The court will then announce when a main hearing can take place.

VA SYD estimates that a main hearing could be held in early 2027, and that a decision on the environmental permit may be issued in late spring/early summer 2027, which would allow construction to begin.

Scope of the permit application

In short, VA SYD is applying for an environmental permit for this:

• To obtain a permit with conditions for the discharge of treated wastewater from 820,000 population equivalent (a measure for the design of wastewater treatment plants) from a new Sjölunda wastewater treatment plant

• To build a robust new Sjölunda wastewater treatment plant with new outfall pipelines into the Öresund, a new pumping station at Sjölunda, a wastewater tunnel under Malmö and a wastewater tunnel from Lund

• Discharge of groundwater, infiltration and other water activities such as works in the Öresund during the construction phase

• Any permit required to operate in or near Natura 2000 sites.

About the judicial proceedings
Having your application reviewed by the Land and Environment Court is a process that can take around two years. The court starts by assessing whether the permit application needs additional information. Once the application is complete, the court initiates a referral period by publishing a notice (advertisement) in the local press. During the referral period, parties concerned, the general public, municipalities, the county administrative board and other public authorities are given access to the plans for MAXIMA and have the opportunity to submit view points, which VA SYD may respond upon. When the referral period has ended, the court will hold a main hearing open to the public, which will most likely take place in Malmö.

Permit decision
When an open hearing has been completed, the Land and Environment Court decides whether the activity may be carried out or not, and the conditions that apply to the permit. The judgment may be appealed against to the Land and Environment Court of Appeal by you or others who are affected. The deadline for appeals is stated in the judgment. 

The permit application under the Continental Shelf Act that was submitted to the Government in 2023 remains in place and is currently dormant. VA SYD is working to ensure that permits under both the Environmental Code and the Continental Shelf Act are obtained simultaneously.