Questioning public green space & affordable housing in times of densifying cities : a case study of the districts Eriksberg & Norby in Uppsala, Sweden

Abstract: This thesis examines the perceived relationship between public green space inequality in districts and how that is perceived to affect housing prices as greeneries value in cities has increased. The purpose is to investigate these perceived values and provoke questions in the thesis on how planning is experienced by active planners in the profession and how green spaces are viewed by residents. These connections are investigated with the help of a case study in two urban districts in Uppsala municipality. Eriksberg and Norby are the districts that are investigated, these are in the western part of Uppsala and differ from each other by, socio-economic background of the residents and housing types, form and among other things. The districts are chosen to be able to look at the perceived issues in different forms of urban districts. And in Eriksberg it is discussed what the consequences potentially be as it faces densification with new housing and renovation of existing homes. Affordable housing and methods to reduce segregation and prevent gentrification are discussed concerning the development and the districts as they are today from different perceptions. Meanwhile discussing the work against segregation, it is also discussed how the planners from Uppsala municipality are viewing and working with social sustainability in the correlation to green spaces decreasing. To be able to investigate these connections, empirical study, interviews with planners from Uppsala municipality and questionnaires in which residents in both Eriksberg and Norby have participated are used. Results from the methods combined with theories from researchers on the same subject are discussed at the end of the study. Conclusions drawn from a planner's perspective are that they need to work more actively with affordable housing. However, the planners never present a concrete plan or actions they are willing to take to deal with the problems that exist. The residents in the area feel strongly about nature and value it, however, the future development in Eriksberg is making the residents unsure of what will be left of nature. The residents are also unsure if they will afford to still live in Eriksberg after the development as the rents will increase. The planners say that everybody will not afford but most will. The quality of green spaces is questioned by the residents on how the municipality will act on the issue due to the lack of plans on how planners will implement socially sustainable solutions. Eriksberg is perceived to be engaged in questions that involve humans and biodiversity, meanwhile, residents in Norby are only engaged in questions that involve a change in their district, this is a strong sign that Norby is and wants to be segregated from other districts. Planners together with the municipality's active choice and stance on making housing accessible to all will reflect how segregated districts will become or remain in the future.