Gräsrotsplanering från femte våningen : eller tankar kring exploateringen av Stockholms ytterstad

Abstract: This essay is about the planning of Stockholm's border regions (areas on the outskirts of the city) during the first seven years of the 21st century. It describes how planning decisions are made in reality, in respect to a 'green' perspective. By describing what a "markanvisning" is (the right to negotiate with the city about a certain piece of land) and by discussing examples of what has happened with a hundred applications for markanvisning, this essay shows how Stockholm's border regions are planned. In the majority of cases it is the initiative of the future developers that begin the planning and construction processes. Research shows that the application to get a markanvisning in Stockholm does not follow a clear, structured system. However, the existing system in Stockholm does work and it seems like almost all the employees within the municipality, the politicians, and the future proprietors are happy with the current situation. Interviews have been held with key individuals involved in the planning process. These are: project leaders working with Stockholm's border regions at Exploateringskontoret (the development office) and their supervisor; the head for the whole Exploateringskontoret; key employees working at Stadsbyggnadskontoret (the city planning office); the head of Stockholm's border regions at Stadsbyggnadskontoret (the city planning office); future developers; and politicians. A complex picture appears from this research, where the strongest influences over the planning process are politics, opinion, contacts and economy. Stockholm's history tells a story of demolition and rebuilding, of visions and a consistent aim of building a great city. Today, in the end, politicians rule over city planning decisions. It was politicians that approved our current comprehensive plan (Översiktsplan) and it is politicians that have put up new goals that make it hard for the employees at the municipality to follow the same city plan. Two of these new goals, "Green compensation" (Grönkompensation) and 20K (20 000 new flats developed in one four year term of office) are projects that have dramatically influenced the development of Stockholm's border regions. Generally speaking, the dominating political blocks (groups from various political parties working together) do not differ much when it comes to the city's planning politics. Their emphasis is not on adhering and working towards longer term planning strategies. Instead they show their results in terms of the number of flats they can build whilst in office. Although they will gain political favour through public opinion, their short-term goals may be at the expense of the long-term interests of the city. The interviews and the resultant research surrounding the markanvisningar process shows that the application documents just have a small impact on the result. The planning decisions are more connected to certain key persons. Responsible for the 'green' side is the head city gardener (stadsträdgårdsmästare), Ulf Lindahl. He is a person that the project leaders turn to, to get an opinion at the earliest stage of the planning process (when someone has applied for markanvisning). Lindahl believes that there is no city in the world that has as many planning documents for green spaces as Stockholm. He knows the city well and the project leaders at the development office (exploateringskontoret) often listen to him out of respect. They say that they often make decisions based on what he suggests, even though they do not have to. The examination of the applications for markanvisning shows that they follow his lead, in around 75% of the cases. This analysis also shows that the head city gardener (stadsträdgårdsmästare) has, during the last few years shown a higher level of acceptance for the exploitation of green spaces. This is due to the fact that people have to build somewhere in Stockholm where space is rapidly running out. It is hoped that the new city plan, due for completion in the year 2010 will provide everybody with a more realistic set of goals that can be used to make more successful and thoughtful planning decisions. A question for you as a reader to reflect over are: How can we do so that the city develops in the best possible way?