Conclusion 2024: Part 2 – Takeaways from The Lab in Lund

September 25-27th, the network met in Lund for the annual Lab. The Lab gathered 65 politicians and planners from Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Norway and Sweden to explore what makes smaller towns attractive. For three days, we took off our urban glasses to explore how the village of Genarp can develop into a vibrant and sustainable community. How does rural development differ from urban development? And what can we learn from it?

Three questions were central to the lab’s discussions:

Sustainable mobility – how can we make Genarp’s natural areas accessible to more people?
Vibrant center – how can we use the municipality’s resources to create a welcoming village center in Genarp, full of experiences?
Attract new residents – how can we create exciting living environments that attract new residents and visitors?

Key conclusions from the Nordic City Network Lab in Lund:

Long-term Commitment to Village Development: The lab emphasized that working with a village is not a project but a long-term, ongoing effort. It requires continuous exchanges between the municipality and village residents and local business. This approach ensures that the development is sustainable and meets the needs of the community over time.
Balancing Preservation and Development: The lab highlighted the importance of creating vibrant town centers by concentrating functions and densifying urban structures while preserving the unique atmosphere of low-density areas. This balance is crucial for maintaining the charm of small towns while promoting growth and development.
Enhancing Connectivity and Community Ties: Improving accessibility to urban and rural areas, as well as merging blue and green infrastructure with transport corridors, were identified as essential strategies. These measures not only enhance connectivity within towns but also contribute to their overall attractiveness by connecting people to natural spaces and fostering strong community ties.
Promoting Tourism through Natural Resources: The lab identified the potential of “Storkriket” as a platform for developing tourism in Genarp. By leveraging natural resources and creating attractive street spaces, the village can enhance its appeal to both residents and visitors.
Utilizing Empty Municipal Premises: One significant lesson for Lund Municipality was the realization that empty municipal premises are a luxury and should be utilized effectively. The lab highlighted the potential of these spaces for various community activities and development projects, which can add value to the Genarp and attract visitors.

Reflections from Nordregio – speakers on the Lab

Inspiring discussions at the creative Nordic City Network urban lab in Genarp

In September 2024, Nordregio joined the Nordic City Network for their urban lab on small-town attractiveness in Genarp, Sweden. The lab brought together planners, politicians, and researchers to discuss the hands-on challenges and opportunities faced by smaller towns striving to enhance their appeal. The diverse perspectives sparked engaging conversations about shared challenges and innovative strategies.

The research about small town attractiveness

During the lab, Nordregio’s Anna Granath Hansson presented findings from the ongoing research project Small Town Attractiveness , funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers. This project examines how national policies on urban attractiveness are reflected in urban planning strategies in six smaller Nordic towns, with a focus on public space, housing, and connectivity.

The research emphasizes ambitions to create vibrant town centers through measures like concentrating functions and densifying urban structures. However, it also highlights the value of preserving the unique atmosphere of low-density areas, which is a core aspect of small-town charm. Striking a balance between preservation and development is crucial. The study also underscores the need for attractive, diverse, and affordable housing options—something smaller towns often struggle to influence, especially when there is limited policy leverage at the national level.

Improving accessibility to other urbanities and rural areas remains a cornerstone of small-town strategies. Nordregio’s research also suggests measures to improve connections to nature areas and to merge blue and green infrastructure with transport corridors. These solutions not only enhance connectivity within towns but also contribute to the overall attractiveness by connecting people to natural spaces.

Highlights from the lab

A highlight of the lab was a presentation by Bo René Schjødt Andersen from Fredericia, Denmark, which showcased their town’s approach to attracting new residents. Common themes emerged, such as efficient mobility solutions, affordable housing, connections to nature and strong community ties.

Although the Nordregio project focuses on ways urban planning can help small towns become attractive, early on we realized that one cannot speak about urban attractiveness, especially in smaller towns, without considering “softer” powers like social capital and sense of community. At the lab in Genarp, it was interesting to get additional examples of this from other speakers, for example, Camilla Ottosson, project coordinator for the BY2030 initiative, and Anna Kanervo from Norrköping’s municipal housing company.

The lab also inspired discussions on regional collaboration. Cities and smaller towns often face shared challenges—such as those related to climate change and transportation—and could greatly benefit from joint solutions.

The lab was a valuable platform to exchange both visionary ideas and practical strategies for small-town development. As Nordregio prepares to release the final results of the SmallTown Attractiveness project in early 2025, we look forward to continuing these meaningful discussions and contributing to the development of more attractive and sustainable small towns across the Nordic region.

Anna Granath Hansson, Senior Research Fellow Nordregio

Conclusion from Lund – the host city

The preparation for the Lab

Being a host means that the host municipality needs to sharpen its focus – scrutinize its cards and define its problems. The preparation time together with Hannah Wadman (secretariat of NCN), where we brainstormed ideas, setups, and lecture themes, was an important prelude to finding direction in the work with the theme of vibrant villages and the benefits of polycentricity. The goal was to be able to switch between regional and local perspectives. Working on issues that fall “between the cracks” and do not have a clear administrative owner but are important for villagers to solve and can add value for others (visitors).

The Importance of the Lab “Vibrant Villages & the Benefits of Polycentricity – Case Genarp”

The most important lesson is that working with a village is not a project but a long-term ongoing effort with exchanges between the municipality and village residents and workers. Representatives of the village association thought it had been a fun process. The second most important lesson is that empty municipal premises are a luxury and an asset to be used. The third most important lesson was discovering the potential of “Storkriket” (stork birds) as a platform for developing tourism in the villages.

After the Lab the working groups keeps returning to – “As we said at the Nordic City Network.” – It is a common reference, invaluable for us. //Charlotte Hägg Reader

Continued Work with the local case Genarp – with Support from the Nordic City Network

The village association’s (“Byalagets”) participants have made a priority list based on the proposals that emerged during the Nordic City Network.

The politicians, the municipal executive committee’s working committee, have received a presentation of Genarp – what it is like to work with a village and lessons from the Nordic City Network and the village association’s priorities.

The three themes we worked with during the Nordic City Network remain as a working method.

The “Vibrant Center” working group has now found a way to work with interim use for the Old Station building. We are ready to contact the village association to discuss short-term contracts & the working group wants to continue further collaborations.

The “Accessible Village Nature” working group has procured a climate benefit calculation intended as a basis for requesting funds for climate adaptation during the reconstruction of Heckebergavägen to create an attractive village space. Genarp village is now visible on the map as an entrance to the Storkriket biosphere area (before the Nordic City Network-days, Häckeberga nature area was the entrance to Storkriket). Slättavägen (between Butterfly Park and the first nature area) is the next case to be scrutinized for action analysis. We have started another working group with the public transport authority to broaden communication about destination Genarp in the spring.

The “Attractive Housing Forms” working group has not yet started specifically for Genarp, but Åbron, the development area by Höje å (the stream), is included as one of Lund Municipality’s areas for the development of areas with garden city character and has received focus through this work during the autumn.

From the lab, we particularly take with us these local findings for the upcoming process of developing the village of Genarp:

Water as a resource to push for creating attractive street spaces (there was something positive about the heavy rain!)
Working with the Old Station House is prioritized
Developing the entrance to Butterfly Park with nature elements
Securing walkways through Åbron to Höje å
Our thinking that “visitors + Genarp residents = true” still holds!

All in all, the Lab gave us great input for the process of developing Genarp into a vibrant village. After the Lab the working groups keeps returning to – “As we said at the Nordic City Network.” – It is a common reference, invaluable for us.