JTP brings participatory planning to Almedalsveckan – Sweden's annual political festival

Published on 18 July 2014

JTP partner Charles Campion was last week invited to talk about bringing people into planning at Sweden's annual political festival in Visby, Gotland.

Charles was asked by Upplands Väsby municipality to speak at their seminar entitled 'The courage to face your citizens in a true dialogue'. In Autumn 2011 JTP facilitated a seven day community Charrette process to create a Vision for Väsby Sjöstad, Sweden's most sustainable new neighbourhood with over 3000 new homes. The proposed new development is needed to provide high quality housing for people working in Väsby 's burgeoning local economy, but it's forest and lakeside siting has been controversial locally.

Since then, Väsby have embraced participatory processes in planning and education, including developing the proposals for Väsby: http://ja-vasbysjostad.se/Bli-medlem-i-foreningen-Vasby-Sjostad.html

Charles shared the platform with Väsby Councillor Maria Fälth and Chief Planner Fredrik Drotte to discuss the concepts, methodologies and positive outcomes of community participation in planning, in both public sector planning and private sector development.

In September 2014 the Väsby community will vote in a referendum to approve or not the development at Väsby Sjöstad.

Related Projects

Upplands Väsby,
Upplands Väsby, Sweden

Settlement Extension
Stage: Masterplan