The preschool was already complete when Norlandia was denied a permit to open it in August last year, writes SVT News Stockholm.
The red-green government in Stockholm city motivated the decision by saying that too many preschools are being opened, even though there are no children to fill them.
The decision was criticized by the opposition, who believed that it hindered free competition and the right to establishment. They also considered the decision to be unjustified.
Norlandia appealed the denied permit to the administrative court – which now gives the city the right.
In the judgment, it is stated that there is no need to open a new preschool since several municipal preschools in the area are empty. It is also considered that the city's decision was objective and impartial.
"This is a historic decision. So far, the municipality has not been able to say no to private preschools, regardless of whether there is a need for them or not, but this judgment shows that it is possible", says Alexandra Mattsson (V), preschool councilor in Stockholm city in a press release.
The government in Stockholm hopes that the judgment can be guiding in similar cases, even if it can still be appealed to the administrative court of appeal.
