Community planning and building in Sweden

Spatial planning a foundation for the development of society

Spatial planning is a means of ensuring that society develops in an appropriate way.

In spatial planning, decision-makers must take the assessments of a range of sectors into account.

The claims that these various sectors make on land and their wishes concerning land use can sometimes come into conflict with one another. Decisions on spatial plans sometimes involve resolving such conflicts. The basis on which decisions are made therefore needs to be well-balanced and thoroughly informed by consultation with various partners.

Plan preparation for the sake of present and future needs

Plan preparation promotes development that enables society to satisfy the needs of people living today and future generations.

Human settlement issues are put into a context in which it is possible to assess the impact of construction. Plan preparation creates conditions for the rational use of land for various purposes.

Legislation alone cannot guarantee that land is used appropriately or that built environments and buildings are properly designed. Knowledge, cooperation between different parties, and political endeavours are therefore of the greatest importance.

Several acts regulate planning and building

General rules governing spatial planning and building are given in the Planning and Building Act, the Swedish Environmental Code and the Act on Municipal Responsibility for Housing Provision. The implementation of plans under property law involves applying the Real Property Formation Act, the Joint Facilities Act and the Utility Easements Act. One of the sixteen environmental quality objectives, namely, a good built environment, has a particular influence on planning activities.

The Planning and Building Act

The Planning and Building Act requires every municipality to have an up-to-date comprehensive plan covering the whole municipality and setting out the course for the long-term development of the physical environment.

The plan is to indicate fundamental features of the envisaged use of land, how the built environment will be used and developed, how areas of national interest will be looked after and how environmental quality standards will be followed, taking national and regional objectives into account.

The Planning and Building Act gives directions for the closer consideration of the suitability of land and water areas for settlement and construction works, and control of the design of the built environment.

Under the Planning and Building Act, permission is required in the form of a building permit to carry out certain building measures, while for certain others, notification is required. For certain site improvement projects a site improvement permit is required and a demolition permit is required for the demolition of certain buildings.

Preparing plans for land and water use is a matter for the municipal authorities. When preparing plans, both public and private interests must be taken into account. Most municipal decisions on matters of land use can be appealed to the county administrative board, after which a further appeal may be lodged with the Land and Environment Court.

The role of county administrative boards in municipal planning is to protect and coordinate central government interests. In certain cases, county administrative boards can intervene against and cancel municipal plans on their own initiative. The Government is responsible for considering appeals against county administrative board decisions.

The Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning is the administrative authority for matters relating to the built environment, management of land and water areas, spatial planning, building and administration, and housing.

• The Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning web site

Swedish Environmental Code

The Environmental Code contains general provisions on the management of land and water areas, including provisions on areas that are of national interest for various purposes.

The Environmental Code contains provisions on environmental quality norms, environmental impact statements and the protection of certain areas (nature reserves, shore protection areas, etc.).

Act on Municipal Responsibility for Housing Provision

The Act on Municipal Responsibility for Housing Provision states that municipalities are required to plan housing provision so as to create conditions that enable everyone in the municipality to live in good housing and that appropriate measures for housing provision are prepared and implemented.

The Real Property Formation Act, the Joint Facilities Act and the Utility Easements Act

The implementation of plans under property law is subject to the Real Property Formation Act, the Joint Facilities Act and the Utility Easements Act. This legislation is applied through a cadastral procedure conducted by a surveying authority.

A cadastral procedure under the Real Property Formation Act takes the form of subdivision and partition of a property unit. Re-formation of a property unit takes the form of re-allotment.

Under the Joint Facilities Act, a facility can be established which is shared by several property units and serves a purpose of enduring importance to them. This is known as a joint facility.

Under the Utility Easements Act, a party wishing to use an area of a property unit for a utility or other device can obtain the right to do so. This is known as a utility easement.

The environmental quality objective: 'A good built environment'

The environmental quality objective of 'A good built environment' means that cities, built-up areas and other urban environments are to be good and healthy living environments and contribute to good regional and global environments.

Natural and cultural values are to be safeguarded and developed. Buildings and facilities are to be located and designed in an environmentally sound way and so as to promote good long-term management of land, water and other resources.

The environmental quality objective is one of the objectives to be taken into account when preparing plans for land use.

Division of responsibility for spatial planning and building

The Government controls the activities of agencies such as the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning and the county administrative boards by means of instructions and assignments.

The Government examines certain appeals against decisions under the Planning and Building Act.

The municipality plans and takes decisions on building permits. The county administrative board processes appeals.

Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning is responsible for the built environment, land and water

The Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning is the national agency for planning, urban development, building and housing.

It is the central administrative authority for matters relating to the built environment and management of land and water areas, spatial planning, building and administration of the building stock, and housing issues.

It has a special responsibility for monitoring and analysing the application of planning and building legislation.

County administrative board is responsible for regional coordination

The county administrative board works with municipalities and government agencies, giving advice and producing regional input for municipal planning, i.e. the comprehensive plan, detailed development plans and area regulations.

The county administrative board gives advice on, evaluates and examines municipal planning, taking into account human health and safety, national interests and environmental quality norms.

Most decisions taken by the municipal building committee or municipal council under the Planning and Building Act can be appealed to the county administrative board.

Municipal responsibility for planning and building permission

The municipalities are responsible for planning in their geographical area. They are responsible for producing a comprehensive plan, detailed development plans, and other planning documents. They are also required to cooperate with other municipalities in doing so.

The municipalities are also responsible for granting building permission and other types of permits under the Planning and Building Act regulations. In addition, they are required to exercise some supervision under the Act.

The municipalities have a duty to inform, which means they are required to provide information to the general public on the rules that apply.

Five land and environment courts

Five land and environment courts examine cases under the Planning and Building Act.

The courts process cases previously handled by the environmental court, most of the cases under the Planning and Building Act that were handled by an administrative court and by the Government, and most of the cases handled by a land court.

The cases dealt with by the land and environment courts are subject to appeal to the Land and Environment Court of Appeal.