Gothenburg is making a choice for the future

The future of central Gothenburg is developed. There are currently two alternatives for how the city will grow in the long term, which are presented in a proposal for an in-depth overview plan. The plan takes into account everything from architecture, housing and climate to trade, business and transport. The three dimensions of sustainability, social, ecological and economic sustainability, are fundamental in the work and constantly in the thoughts of the developers.

Anna Widman, landscape architect and group manager for urban development in Gothenburg at WSP Sweden, is the editor of the plan and thus the one who, in close collaboration with the city's project manager and experts, compiles the texts and coordinates the content. The work with the in-depth general plan is led by the City Planning Office in collaboration with the city's administrations.

- We work with the aim set for 2050-2075 and a lot will happen until then, not least our trade and transport patterns will change, and that makes the work extra interesting, she says.

Two scenarios for urban development

In the central of Gothenburg, there are large areas that can be used to meet the increased demand for housing and workplaces. A challenge in this context is that the city is crossed by several traffic routes of national infrastructure interest. Two of them are Lundbyleden for road traffic and Hamnbanan for freight traffic by rail, which supplies Sweden's largest port.

Depending on how these transport routes are handled, there are two scenarios.

- If Hamnbanan can be moved and Lundbyleden transformed into a more urban boulevard, the city can grow north. Then several parts of Hisingen can be integrated into the city center and the inner city. But this is in the long run, says Anna Widman.

If, on the other hand, both transport routes remain in their current route and design, the new districts will perhaps have a more peripheral character as the connections to the rest of Hisingen will be fewer.

The in-depth overview plan is now out for review and the city's citizens can view in it online as well as at information meetings for the public.

Sustainable societies and climate change

In addition to managing the in depth editorial work for the master plan concerning central Gothenburg, Anna Widman has been a member of the project group that will continue the work forward and has been extra involved in the issues concerning green and blue structures, i.e. parks, nature areas and watercourses provide protection against increased water flows and situations with extreme weather.

An example is that greenery and park areas in the cities contribute to lowering the temperature during heat stress at the same time as they can function as meeting places, which is incredibly important from a social perspective, says Anna Widman.

One example of climate action is riverbank protection, that in the future will form a neutural element in the cityscape and protect a growing Gothenburg from floods.

Exchange of experience and quality assurance

In addition to her work as editor of the in-depth overview plan, Anna Widman is also group manager for Urban Development at WSP Sweden in Gothenburg. The group works primarily with municipalities and other stakeholders such as developers and construction actors in the Västra Götaland region.

- We have also just started a national network for us who work with planning issues within WSP, she says.

Anna Widman expects that the exchange in the network will contribute to a better distribution of resources within WSP and contribute to quality assurance of the projects.

- Also, it's nice to have a network. The work is facilitated if you have a relationship with the person you work with, she says.