Nature-Based Solutions for Water in the Peri-Urban: Case Study Brief - Sweden, Stockholm, Årstafältet

Årstafältet (ÅF) is a large open grass field and a suburb located 5 km south from the city centre of Stockholm. Driven by the environmental quality goals of Stockholm , a water dam and a stream were constructed with the aim of being integrated in a landscape park for purifying runoffs from the surroundings and restoration the natural water flow, and maintaining the ecological value of the grass-field. However, due to the huge housing demand, the landscape plan altered towards urbanising the area and constructing residential buildings. The city decided to capitalise on existing NBS, enlarge, and redesign the water pond and integrate them in green structures including parks, trees planting along roads, green roofs and courtyards, allotment gar-dens, and deciduous forest, all of which are yet in the planning or implementation phase. The planned NBS are to deal with various water pressures at different scales ranging from local to watershed level includ-ing climate change impacts and flood management, improving water quality, groundwater recharge, in addition to other social and environmental benefits. The construction of the water ponds has been sub-stantially challenged by civic groups’ opposition and appeals, uncertainties, high cost and investments, and contestation over roles of actors in planning and design, financing issues, ownership, division of responsibilities for maintaining NBS, but also the very dynamic and long-term planning process that is exposed to contingences and change.     

This case study actually represents multiple case studies of different projects of NBS in ÅF. It is likely to provide a nuanced understanding regarding the planning and governance challenges and opportunities for closing the water cycle gap at the urban scale through mainstreaming NBS in transitional areas towards more urbanisations.