Malmö, Sweden
City population: 306502
Duration: 2001 – ongoing
Implementation status: Ongoing
Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Project area: 1870000 m2
Type of area: Industrial, Previous derelict area
Last updated: November 2021

The city of Malmö works for a sustainable urban environment, e.g. through planning the city's new construction, working on existing buildings and at the same time striving to reduce the environmental impact. Västra Hamnen (Western harbour) is a new and ultra-modern district in Malmö. It is located on a former shipyard area right beside the sea, only less than a kilometer north-west of the medieval old town of Malmö (ref. 10). In the Western Harbour where land was available after the shipyard’s closure, high sustainability has been sought from the beginning. In dialogue with builders and other actors, Malmö City has developed guidelines for energy use, green structure, waste solutions and a healthy indoor environment. (Ref. 1)

The Western Harbour of Malmö (2018)
The Western Harbour of Malmö (2018)
Photographer: Bojana Lukac (City Planning Office), retrieved 08/22/2018

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Nature on buildings (external)
  • Green roofs
  • Grey infrastructure featuring greens
  • Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
  • Parks and urban forests
  • Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
  • Blue infrastructure
  • Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries

Key challenges

  • Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
  • Climate change adaptation
  • Climate change mitigation
  • Water management (SDG 6)
  • Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Habitat and biodiversity conservation
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Regeneration, land-use and urban development
  • Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
  • Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
  • Social cohesion
  • Social justice and equity
  • Social interaction
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation
  • Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
  • Tourism support
  • Employment/job creation
  • Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
  • Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure

Focus

Creation of new green areas, Transformation of previously derelict areas

Project objectives

The Vision for 2031 for Västra hamnen (the Western Harbour) has 10 goals, which include (but not limited to): The Västra hamnen brand is strong nationally and internationally, Västra hamnen is a mixed city with living streets, to the Västra hamnen people can travel by a sustainable way, the area is close to blue and green structures, Västra hamnen continues to be at the forefront of sustainable construction, in Västra Hamnen there are indoor meeting places for everyone, in Western Harbor, energy production is sustainable and energy consumption is low. (Ref. 5)

Implementation activities

Approximately half of the area is built or has detailed planning. (Ref 4). Building various kinds of blue and green spaces-- 'living streets' have been the activities to create Västra hamnen. Sustainability aspects including energy related issues along with biodiversity and mobility are included in the building of the area Fullriggaren (completed by 2013) in Västra hamnen, this area includes e.g. building/offices, parking space etc. (Ref. 6)

Climate-focused activities

Climate change adaptation:

  • Implement green walls or roofs to lower indoor temperature and provide insulation
  • Implement sustainable urban drainage infrastructure (e.g. to make space for water)

Climate change mitigation:

  • Increase green urban nature for carbon storage (wetlands, tree cover)
  • Invest in public transport/bicycle infrastructure as a means to prevent car use

Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities

Biodiversity conservation:

  • Protect and enhance urban habitats
  • Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
  • Means for conservation governance
  • Manage biological resources for conservation and sustainable use

Main beneficiaries

  • National-level government
  • Local government/Municipality
  • Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

  • Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Local government/municipality

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Taskforce groups
  • Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

Thhe city has been a large landowner and thus had the opportunity to make demands on those who buy the land has contributed to the success of this project. (Ref. 6) The steering committee of the redevelopment includes the city building office, real estate office, street office, street administration, city center management and the environmental office. Reference skills VA Syd (a regional water and sewer organization). (Ref. 5) The process also includes dialogue with builders. (Ref. 5)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Yes (The expansion in Västra hamnen (Western harbour) began with Bo01, the European Housing Fair (sv. bostads-mässan) held in 2001. (Ref. 6) )
... a national policy or strategy? Unknown
... a local policy or strategy? Yes (Västra hamnen is included in the City of Malmö’s comprehensive plan. (Ref. 7) )

Financing

Total cost

More than €4,000,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public national budget
  • Public local authority budget

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget
  • Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Climate change
  • Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
  • Reduced emissions
  • Energy efficiency improvements
  • Environmental quality
  • Improved air quality
  • Improved waste management
  • Reduced noise exposure
  • Improved protection against strong wind
  • Water management and blue areas
  • Improved water quality
  • Improved stormwater management
  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area
  • Restoration of derelict areas

Economic impacts

  • Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
  • Attraction of business and investment

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Fair distribution of social, environmental and economic benefits of the NBS project
  • Improved liveability
  • Improved access to urban green space
  • Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
  • Increased opportunities for social interaction
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Improved physical health
  • Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
  • Cultural heritage and sense of place
  • Promotion of cultural diversity
  • Education
  • Increased support for education and scientific research

Type of reported impacts

Expected impacts, Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Yes

Presence of indicators used in reporting

Yes

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

Yes

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

Yes

References

1. Malmö Stad. (2016). Hållbart byggande & boende. Västra hamnen. Available at: Source link (Accessed 5 August 2020)
2. Malmö Stad. (2019). Om Västra hamnen. Västra hamnen. Available at: Source link (Accessed 5 August 2020)
3. Malmö Stad. (2012). Pågående stadsutvecking i Västra hamnen. Stadsbyggnadskontoret. Available at: Source link (Accessed 5 August 2020)
4. Malmö Stad. (2019). Västra hamnen 2031 - ett hållbart och gott liv för alla. Västra hamnen. Available at: Source link (Accessed 5 August 2020)
5. Malmö Stad. (2013). Västra hamnen 2031 - ett hållbart och gott liv för alla. Uppdatering av vision, mål och strategier. Available at: Source link (Accessed 5 August 2020)
6. Boverket. (2014). Hållbara städer Malmö - hållbar stadsutveckling Malmö från öst till väst. Slutrapport. Mijöförvaltningen, Malmö Stad. Available at: Source link (Accessed 5 August 2020)
7. Malmö Stad. (2005). Mer och bättre innerstad. Del 2 + 3. Utlåtande, Malmö Stad. Available at: Source link (Accessed 5 August 2020)
8. Malmö Stad. (2009). Miljöprogram för Malmö stad 2009-2020. Malmö Stad. Available at: Source link (Accessed 5 August 2020)
9. Malmö Stad. (2014). Översiktsplan för Malmö - planstrategi. Malmö Stad. Available at: Source link (Accessed 5 August 2020)
10. Guide Book Sweden. (2011). Västra Hamnen; Innovative district in Malmö. Available at: Source link (Accessed 5 August 2020)