Sweden’s ‘Härnösand is Growing’ makes urban planning clearer for citizens

Bringing planning closer to residents

Härnösand Municipality in Sweden is helping residents take a more active role in shaping their town through a new and accessible approach to urban planning.

The good practice, called ‘Härnösand is Growing’, brings planning information into a familiar public space: the local library. There, residents can explore upcoming projects and development plans using interactive screens, 3D maps and visual displays.

Making complex plans easier to understand

Instead of reading technical reports or looking at difficult 2D maps, people can now see what future changes may look like in their own neighbourhoods. They can view projects from different angles, understand their scale, and better see how planned developments may affect daily life.

This helps make planning more transparent and easier for everyone to follow.

Encouraging wider participation

The initiative is especially focused on making participation easier for young people and for residents who may not usually take part in planning discussions. By using clear visuals and placing the information in an open public space, the municipality has lowered barriers to involvement.

Supporting better decisions

The approach has also helped planners and decision-makers. It gives them better tools to explain projects, support informed political decisions, and build trust with the community.

A key strength of the practice is its simple idea: combine a physical meeting point with digital tools. This creates a more open and understandable planning process, where residents can feel better informed and more able to contribute.

A model for other municipalities

The model can also inspire other municipalities. Libraries, community centres or other public spaces can become places where people learn about future developments, ask questions and take part earlier in decision-making.

By making urban planning more visible, understandable and inclusive, Härnösand is showing how digital innovation can support stronger dialogue between municipalities and citizens.

📰 Explore the full collection of INCLUDE Good Practices and discover more inspiring examples:  https://www.interreg-npa.eu/projects/include/home/outputs-results/