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Urban Planning as a Strategy to Implement Social Sustainability Policy Goals? The Case of Temporary Housing for Immigrants in Gothenburg, Sweden

Author

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  • Olga Stepanova

    (School of Global Studies, University of Gothenburg, SE 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden)

  • Magdalena Romanov

    (School of Global Studies, University of Gothenburg, SE 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden)

Abstract

Planning is one of the envisioned strategies for reaching policy goals of urban social sustainability. However, the practical realization of this vision faces a number of challenges not least due to conflicts of interests and goals that arise in the planning process. There also seems to be a lack of understanding of the relationship between formal planning and social sustainability goals that are often normative and visionary. In order to bridge this knowledge gap, this paper investigates how urban social sustainability can be implemented in urban planning in the context of conflicts of interests and goals. In particular, we explore two questions: (i) whether and how planning procedures are interconnected with local policy goals for social sustainability; (ii) whether and how conflict affects the implementation of these goals through planning. The paper presents a qualitative case study of planning of temporary housing for immigrants in Gothenburg, Sweden, where a conflict of interests developed in conjunction with the planning. The local social sustainability goals are operationalized through the specific sub-goals of accessible and more equal living conditions, distribution of and equal access to housing for all groups in the community, and reduced social and ethnic segregation and discrimination in regard to housing. We identify shortcomings in the integration of local urban social sustainability goals into planning procedures and find that conflicts of interests as well as conflicts of priorities within and between the policy goals complicate their integration into formal planning procedures. More attention needs to be given to improved operationalization of the questions of priority and conflict resolution, both in planning and in urban social sustainability policy, if planning is to be considered a viable strategy for implementation of social sustainability goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Olga Stepanova & Magdalena Romanov, 2021. "Urban Planning as a Strategy to Implement Social Sustainability Policy Goals? The Case of Temporary Housing for Immigrants in Gothenburg, Sweden," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:1720-:d:494115
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kostka, Genia, 2014. "Barriers to the implementation of environmental policies at the local level in China," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7016, The World Bank.
    2. Geerlings, Harry & Stead, Dominic, 2003. "The integration of land use planning, transport and environment in European policy and research," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 10(3), pages 187-196, July.
    3. Mark Davidson, 2010. "Sustainability as ideological praxis: The acting out of planning’s master‐signifier," City, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(4), pages 390-405, August.
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    5. Hannah Saldert, 2021. "Spanning Boundaries Between Policy and Practice: Strategic Urban Planning in Gothenburg, Sweden," Planning Theory & Practice, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(3), pages 397-413, May.
    6. Beate Littig & Erich Griessler, 2005. "Social sustainability: a catchword between political pragmatism and social theory," International Journal of Sustainable Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 8(1/2), pages 65-79.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yuan Chang & Xinguo Ming & Xianyu Zhang & Tongtong Zhou & Xiaoqiang Liao & Sijia Cao, 2021. "Servitization and Sustainable Value Creation Strategy for China’s Manufacturing Industry: A Multiple Case Study in the Belt and Road Initiative," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-28, October.
    2. Sonia De Gregorio Hurtado & Álvaro Andueza Lacarra, 2025. "Complementarity Between Statutory and Strategic Planning in Urban Regeneration Under EU Cohesion Policy—Lessons from the Spanish Experience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-20, September.

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