C40 Good Practice Guides: Stockholm - Hammarby Sjöstad

Summary

Hammarby Sjöstad is a redevelopment project in southern Stockholm. The project was central to Stockholm’s bid to host the 2004 Olympics, with Hammarby Sjöstad part of the ecological Olympic Village. Although the bid was unsuccessful, the site has since been converted from a run-down industrial area into a modern, environmentally sustainable, mixed- use district with good public transit connections.^xxvii

Results

According to ITDP, Hammarby Sjöstad is home to approximately 20,000 residents and includes nearly 100 retail units and restaurants as well as office space and light industrial uses, employing over 5,000 people. Only 21% of trips made by Hammarby Sjöstad residents are by car, while 52% are by public transportation, and 27% by bicycle or by foot. CO₂ emissions per apartment from transport by car are more than 50% lower in Hammarby Sjöstad than in the surrounding districts, and GHG emissions from buildings are 40-46% lower.^xxviii

Reasons for success

Hammarby Sjöstad’s success can be attributed to strong environmental goals that shaped the development plan, incorporating land use, building materials, energy, water and sewage, and solid waste. A transport modal shift was the main objective of the redevelopment, with the goal to create a place where 80% of trips would be made by public transport, bike or foot. This goal has been achieved by complementing expansion of the district with transport investments, including increased bus service, cycle paths, pedestrian bridges, ferry service and an extension of the tramline. Development has been focused on a dense settlement structure, concentrated along main transit corridors. In addition, to discourage car use, parking in the area is limited and expensive.

When/why a city might adopt an approach like this

Cities seeking to plan sustainability-driven large-scale redevelopment projects may be interested in following the example of Hammarby Sjöstad. It is important to note that the sustainability benefits of Hammarby Sjöstad extend beyond reducing carbon emissions to increased quality of life through the provision of nature parks and waterfront walkways. 

C40 Good Practice Guides

C40's Good Practice Guides offer mayors and urban policymakers roadmaps for tackling climate change, reducing climate risk and encouraging sustainable urban development. With 100 case studies taken from cities of every size, geography and stage of development around the world, the Good Practice Guides provide tangible examples of climate solutions that other cities can learn from. 

The Transit Oriented Development Good Practice Guide is available for download here.  The full collection of C40 Good Practice Guides is available for download here.  

All references can be found in the full guide.