The Health Dilemma of Urban Densification : A Study on the Health Effects of Urban Densification in Three Swedish Cities

Abstract: In recent years, Sweden has undergone urbanization, with cities growing and the population increasing. At the same time, there is a great shortage of housing and a great need to expand. As Swedish cities grow, densification has been used as a planning ideal and strategy. This is because densification is in many ways seen as a sustainable way of building. At the same time, research shows that densification can have negative health effects. Therefore, this thesis has investigated whether health aspects are safeguarded in densification processes and how they are safeguarded in three Swedish municipalities, Gothenburg, Malmö and Jönköping.  The study was done through interviews with urban planners at each municipality and by analyzing the municipalities' comprehensive plans. The result of the thesis shows that the municipalities work with the health perspective in planning and the planners are aware of the importance of health issues in the planning process. The municipalities point out that there are health risks with densification, such as loss of green areas, but mention that densification can also have positive health effects such as increased opportunities for mobility. Even if municipalities are proactive, health issues are often de-prioritized in densification processes due to economic or political interests. Mental health issues also receive less attention in the planning process than physical health issues. The conclusion for what needs to be done is that planners need to take a clearer role and address mental health more in densification processes. More research on the health effects of densification is necessary in order to provide planners and decision-makers with clearer guidelines on how planning can safeguard health aspects.