Debate, Urban Development | The urban development plan is ready!

The plan, which will stimulate increased development and urban life in the center of Sandefjord up to 2050, will be discussed politically in May and June. The urban development plan has an action program with 35 concrete measures to improve the city.

A vibrant city is very important for the municipality’s attractiveness, both to retain and attract new, increasingly urban residents and office businesses. Furthermore, city center development is the very key when we have to plan for conversion to a low-emission society towards 2050. When we build a city, we reduce the destruction of nature and cultivated land. Furthermore, we reduce our transport needs and associated greenhouse gas emissions.

The mission has been to “think big”, as it should be. The ambition has been for the urban development plan to be the municipal society’s “common thread” in urban development until 2050. It is desirable that voluntary, public and private actors collaborate on the urban development measures that are now being proposed.

Many good urban development initiatives, such as new urban space in Thor Dahls gate, district development in Nybyen, upgrade of Kongens gate, new flexible cultural arena, upgrade of Aagaards plass and new sea bath, have been carried out under private and municipal auspices in recent years. That is very good, but we need to do more. A modern municipality is more than operation and maintenance, it is also a community developer. There are many cities that invest heavily in urban development, and those that do not risk being left behind.

All the input we have received has now turned into 35 large and small initiatives. I will mention a few:

• Boulder wall and orangery in the centre
• Road rerouting and lowering of the sea front at Carlsenkvartalet
• New district park in Kamfjordkilen
• New library/cultural center and cultural school on the Tivoli plot
• Municipal parking garage in the fringe zone of the city centre
• New urban space in the lower part of Thor Dahls gate
• Move the public transport terminal to the “triangular site” at the top of Dronningens gate
• Framnes ferry
• More benches and better lighting in the centre
• Solve the overflow situation in Indre havn
• New road/tunnel through Preståsen + downgrading Kilgata to environmental street

Some measures are realistic in the short term (0-5 years). Some only in the medium term (10-12 years). The major transport measures are long-term (up to 2050), and will probably require city package funds and user funding to be implemented. Nevertheless, the opportunities they provide are fantastic and they therefore deserve their place in the action programme. It is the city planners’ duty to think holistically and long-term.

The plan is now being submitted for political final consideration. Some measures may be scrapped, while others may be implemented. It will be exciting to see. Many measures are dependent on both municipal and private “drive” and willingness to invest. If they are carried out, we believe that Sandefjord will become a very attractive city.