Land use in Urban Growth Agreements: Experiences from the Trondheim, Bergen and North-Jæren urban regions

We studied how land use was handled in urban growth agreement negotiations. All chose to use the regional or inter-municipal plan as basis in the agreements, and the agreements got no direct influence on land use. Important questions concerned how to reach agreement on future development patterns that contribute to the zero-growth objective and ensure that this is followed up in line with the Planning and Building Act. An important input is that the municipalities must be given and take greater responsibility for developing visions, goals and solutions that both contribute to the zero-growth objective and to safeguard important issues for the municipalities. Knowledge is a key factor. The state has only weak sanctions available. The agreements and the steering systems should be simplified, adapted and described. A criticism was that the state itself acts in ways that reduce the chances to achieve the zero-growth objective.