When Statistics Norway’s population figures for 2025 are published soon, the municipality of Stockholm could have broken the million barrier. At the end of November, only 381 people were needed there.
But while the city of Stockholm’s forecast points to 129,000 more residents in 20 years, there are also fears of a population crisis.
Recently published The Stockholm Chamber of Commerce conducted a survey of 1,107 respondents which found that one in three adults and two in five students are thinking about moving away. The housing market is cited as the main reason.
“For Stockholm to continue to be an attractive region, political reforms are needed that make it easier for young people in particular to enter the housing market,” said Daniella Waldfogel, managing director of the Chamber of Commerce.
The housing market in Gothenburg is also difficult for many, but still at a different level, and 24,500 new apartments are currently being planned. But relatively few in the center.
A crucial difference Compared to Stockholm, downtown Gothenburg is so sparsely populated. According to a report by the West Swedish Chamber of Commerce, only 2 percent of the municipality’s residents live in the city center, compared to 12 percent in Stockholm and 8 percent in Malmö.
If Gothenburg wants to change this balance, the largest single project is also an almost unique opportunity: the construction of 5,000 to 8,000 apartments in the Gullbergsvass area, the size of three or four normal city districts.
That which was one The logistics area between the railway and the Göta River, just a few hundred meters from the central station, is now waiting to be converted into a residential area. The area is already being compared to the attractive Linnéstaden, and city councilor Johannes Hulter (S) called it “a nugget” that many other cities are jealous of.
Statliga Jernhusen wants to be the first to build 3,000 apartments in Gothenburg.
“There isn’t much else like it on this scale, and Norra Djurgårdsstaden in Stockholm isn’t in the middle of the city,” says Urban Hammarlund, business developer at Jernhusen.
– But the most important thing is that Gullbergsstaden, as we call it, can contribute a lot to increasing density and safety in the center of Gothenburg.
The ambitions to build in areas such as Gullbergsvass on the southern river bank, Hjalmar Brantingstråket, Backaplan and today’s Dag Hammarskjöld boulevard are linked to what Gothenburg’s decision-makers have so far deemed necessary to meet demand as businesses run at full speed.
Often municipally owned The Gothenburg Economic Region points out that business in Västra Götaland has surpassed Stockholm County in terms of how much private capital is invested in research and development. Thousands of move-in experts are looking for attractive accommodation.
The population statistics from the Norwegian Statistical Office also gradually show signs of change between the major cities. Over the last twelve years, Stockholm’s urban population has grown by 9.6 percent and Gothenburg’s by 13.4 percent (see chart above).
Also absolutely counted Gothenburg has grown faster than Stockholm in five of the last six years.
Last year up to and including November the gap was 3,604 people in favor of Gothenburg, and the social democrat and chairman of the Gothenburg municipal council, Jonas Attenius, likes to highlight this number.
– It’s especially funny that so many young adults are moving here, and I would venture to believe that the entertainment scene, the many restaurants and clubs, concerts and events also attract a lot of people. Gothenburg is simply a beautiful city where you can live a good life, he says.
But in the local debate, the opposition often accuses S and the red-green government of indirectly forcing families with children of working parents to move to neighboring municipalities where it is possible to buy a villa or terraced house at cheaper prices, and that this has an impact on Gothenburg’s tax base.
You will find support Statistics show that the net migration of children up to the age of 15 to surrounding communities has been negative in the last five years.
But the S boss believes that this image of their politics is “completely wrong”.
– Just a few days ago we decided on a brand new residential area with a classic garden city and around 350 houses in Angered. What sets us apart from the right is that we don’t have some strange ideological opposition to housing. With fewer rental apartments, which is the goal of the right, fewer people could have moved to Gothenburg.
Facts.This is how “Gullbergsstaden” is planned
With its location right next to the main train station and
The older city center of Gullbergsvass has “good conditions for this
is developing into a lively inner-city environment” in which “the principle is a continuum
urban environment with strict blocks in a grid from the central area to
Marieholm,” writes Gothenburg’s urban development administration in a so-called structural concept, in which they speak of 5,000 to 8,000 apartments, depending on the density chosen.
Two large and Costly questions that need to be clarified are whether and, if so, how the tram should be extended through the area and whether or not the E 45 thoroughfare should be covered.
Nobody should expect housing to be cheap. In the document it is written:
“The area requires major interventions into existing structures to make this possible.”
has developed into a mixed-use city, and taking into account high costs for
Due to the development and location in the city, the houses are expected to be
expensive, which may mean limiting the area’s ability to contribute
Segregation is low.”
Source: City of Gothenburg
