Building affordable homes: Challenges and solutions in the Nordic Region

Abstract

is a leading Nordic and European research centre for regional development and planning, established by the Nordic Council of Ministers in 1997. We conduct solution-oriented and applied research, addressing current issues from both a research perspective and the viewpoint of policymakers and practitioners. Operating at the international, national, regional and local levels, Nordregio's research covers a wide geographic scope, with an emphasis on the Nordic and Baltic Sea Regions, Europe and the Arctic. The Nordic cooperation Nordic cooperation is one of the world's most extensive forms of regional collaboration, involving Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland. Nordic cooperation has firm traditions in politics, the economy, and culture. It plays an important role in European and international collaboration, and aims at creating a strong Nordic community in a strong Europe. Nordic cooperation seeks to safeguard Nordic and regional interests and principles in the global community. Common Nordic values help the region solidify its position as one of the world's most innovative and competitive. The Nordic Council of Ministers is a forum of cooperation between the Nordic governments. The Nordic Council of Ministers implements Nordic cooperation. The prime ministers have the overall responsibility. Its activities are coordinated by the Nordic ministers for cooperation , the Nordic Committee for cooperation and portfolio ministers. Founded in 1971.

Analysis of pandemic outdoor recreation and green infrastructure in Nordic cities to enhance urban resilience

“…Explanations for the clear differences may be linked to different housing policies in the Nordic countries. Housing affordability is an issue in all countries, but Sweden stands out with a particularly challenging situation; prices have increased during the past 20 years, and there is a housing shortage for older people with low pensions and modest savings 45 . This may limit the possibilities of older people for choosing to live close to nature or greenery and, hence, motivate for seeking opportunities for pleasant outdoor recreation at longer distances.…”

“…Small-scale green infrastructure is also beneficial from the perspective of affordable housing, as large development projects easily cause rising property values and subsequent replacement of residents with low incomes 8 , 64 . The pandemic has increased the demand for detached and single-family houses 65 that indicates urban sprawl and further challenges the availability of affordable housing in the Nordic cities 45 . This should be addressed by promoting small-scale green infrastructure in dense urban areas that are ‘just green enough’ and explicitly protect social as well as ecological sustainability 66 , 67 .…”

Kampen om en tredje boligsektor i Oslo: De kommersielle og ikke-kommersielle alternativene

“…Oslo kommune har mål om rimelige boliger, mindre segregering og en tredje boligsektor i Kommuneplanens samfunnsdel (Oslo kommune v/Byrådet, 2018), men har begrensede verktøy til å gjøre noe med dette i den generelle boligforsyningen (Nordahl, 2018;Tunström, 2020). Eierrådighetsstrategier har begrenset nytte når kommunen eier få tomter egnet for boligformål og har begrensede muligheter for strategisk tomtekjøp (EBY-utredning i Oslo kommune v/Byrådsavdeling for byutvikling, 2019).…”

“…Med utgangspunkt i boliginitiativene til Oslobyrådet og TBBL analyserer vi to ideologisk forankrede diskurser: en kommersiell og en ikke-kommersiell. Hovedprinsippet med ikke-kommersiell boligutvikling er å regulere profitt og balansere gevinstmotivet opp imot rimelighet på sikt (Tunström, 2020).…”