Østfold county - urban challenges and solutions

Østfold County

URBACHT II Pilot Training Elected Representatives; Brussels, April 9th 2013. Siv Henriette Jacobsen

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Introduction to Østfold, Norway.

• Location: South-east of Oslo, bordering on Sweden in the east, and the Oslofjord coastline in the south and west.

• Twin city area about 100km from Oslo.

• Area: 5077 km2 total, 75,6km2 of towns and buildt up areas.

• Population: 278 000

• Density: 70,7 pr km2, 1450 pr km2 in towns and buildt up areas.

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The Twin city area: Sarpsborg and Fredrikstad.

• 71 000 inhabitants

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• 52 000 inhabitants

Halden and Moss

• 30 000 inhabitants

• 30 000 inhabitants

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Askim and Mysen 5

• 14 500 inhabitants • 7000 inhabitants

Østfold’s challenges

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Østfold’s challenges

• Increase of abandoned areas due to changes in the industrial sector.

• Close to the capital, an opportunity and a threat.

• Population growth, largely through immigration. In 2050 we will likely have more than 100 000 new residents, an increase of almost 40%.

• Management of land use, e.g. agriculture and cultural heritage.

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Østfold’s challenges continued

• Low education levels in population compared to other regions in Norway.

• Social and health problems, especially prominent in some urban areas.

• Coordinating different levels of planning.

• Limited tools, as most detail planning is managed by private investors.

• Need for increased awareness at political and community level.

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Thematic Network

• Our first URBACHT project.

• USEAct - Urban Sustainable Environmental Actions

• How to link urban growth management, planning tools and incentives/procedures/partnerships to implement good interventions in urban areas.

• Partners Naples (lead), Baia Mare, Baracaldo, Dublin, Buchinghamshire, Nitra, Riga, Trieste, Viladecans, Østfold.

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Main Challenges related to USEAct

• Densification

• Management of quality interventions

• Communication

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Local Support Group

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Representatives from:

• Østfold county,

• Planning offices in the 6

towns,

• the County Governor

• The Norwegian state

housing bank.

Local Support Group

Tasks

• Make the outline to the LAP

• Local meetings to provide feedback to the LAP and to take part of the networks experience

• Participate in seminars located in Norway

• Passing on the knowledge and experience from USEAct into the local communities.

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Sustainable urban densification

- Public and private cooperation

- Descriptions

- Best practice and sharing experience

- A systematization of knowledge

- Booklet and/ or web site

08.04.2013

13 Local Action Plan

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The development in Østfold must be sustainable. This means that the needs of today's people are met without compromising the ability of future generations or people elsewhere to meet their needs.

Østfolds Master Plan