New Times and Dynamics in Söderhamn

The Union of the Baltic Cities Planning Cities Commission meeting New Times – New Dynamics took place in in Söderhamn from May 22nd to May 25th. The head of the UBC Sustainable Cities Commision Secretariat Björn Grönholm participated in the event and presented Baltic Urban Lab along with UBC’s iWater project. Söderhamn itself is in the process of developing its brownfield areas.

Söderhamn gathered city planners and experts to discuss and envisage new solution for the small Swedish city facing structural changes and the challenges of regionalization. The city focuses its plans for 2016-2019 in five core areas: infrastructure, entrerprise, attractive housing, equality and employer branding. As the name of the meeting suggests, Söderhamn are looking for new dynamic and times to unfold as the city seeks answers on how to develop two main sites.

A portal that includes a travel centre outside the city center and a former industrial area by the sea, were the focus of two workshops for which solutions were sought for. The city council has planned to develop the portal as a good base for creating an attractive urban entrance to Söderhamn town centre that would include premises for retail and office use and the possibility of residential areas and hotels. Söderhamn by the sea, on the other hand, is seen as a having great potential to be developed into an integral part of the urban area of the city. Both development areas can be classified as brownfield areas and are facing challenges that contaminated ground conditions bring.

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Brownfield