CITIES OF THE FUTURE

Cities with the lowest possible greenhouse gas emissions and a good urban environment

Preface

Bergen has a long-term goal of becoming a greenhouse gas neutral city. Projects in the four priority
areas of land use and transport, stationary energy, consumption pattern and waste, and adaptation to
climate change are at various stages of programme clarication, but all are a result of discussions with
all the municipal agencies and other relevant bodies. Bergen will also initiate a project on climate change
and human rights to clarify to what extent sustainable climate development can be dened as a human
right. This work will be carried out in collaboration with several research institutions and organisations.
Bergen is the only city in Europe to have been invited to become a member of the European Climate
Forum.
The Norwegian parliaments processing of the Bergen Programme for transport, city development and
the environment in February 2006 represented a trend break in Bergens urban development. In
Proposition no. 76 (2004-2005) to the Norwegian parliament a new transport policy was adopted,
including, among other things, the building of a light rail system, a new ring-road system and
environmental measures in the city centre. In addition to forming the backbone of an efcient public
transport system, the new light rail will also shape urban land-use development for the coming 10-20
years. Bergens urban densication policy as laid down in the municipal master plan is largely based on
the development of areas along the light rail. The ring-road system will divert unnecessary trafc from
the city centre.
Work has commenced on the development of a more environmentally friendly transport system, and
Bergen has come a long way towards completing a district heating network based on energy from waste.
Projects relating to stationary and mobile energy consumption will make Bergen more energy efcient.
The building of an environmentally friendly waste suction network in the city centre is also in full swing.
Bergens environmental plan has been incorporated into the land-use part of the municipal master plan
in that the plan now includes the environmental policy strategies. An action plan has been prepared for
better air in Bergen, and climate and energy plans are being drawn up. In addition, the City Government
and the City Council have passed several resolutions implementing various transport policy measures.
Bergen has put a good deal of work into risk and vulnerability issues in urban development.
In recent years Bergen has organised open urban development conferences for the interested public,
and has also held conferences on the theme of children and childhood environment. The City
Government is convinced of the importance of involving children in efforts to achieve sustainable urban
development. It is important to give priority to forums for interaction and collaboration at international,
national and regional levels. Locally, such collaboration is already happening in several elds.
In the following we will clarify where Bergen stands in relation to its goal of becoming a greenhouse gas
neutral city and describe the projects which we consider suitable for further development in the Cities of
the Future collaboration. We presuppose that more detailed action programmes will be drawn up during
the autumn of 2008.
Bergen, 4 April 2008
Lisbeth Iversen
Commissioner for Climate,Environmental Affairs and Urban Development

Contents

Relevant goals and strategies

1.

2.

3.

4.

Land use and transport

15

Reasons for the prioritisations

Prioritised projects

16
17

Stationary energy

22

Reasons for the prioritisations in the project period

Prioritised projects

23
25

Consumption pattern and waste

28

Reasons for the prioritisations in the project period

Prioritised projects

29
30

Adaptation to climate change

34

Reasons for the prioritisations in the project period

Prioritised projects

36
36

Other expert milieus in Bergen today

- background and collaboration

41

Organisation of work locally

- coordination with the network programme

43

Project sheets

45

APPLICABLE GOALS AND STRATEGIES

LAND-USE PART OF THE MUNICIPAL MASTER PLAN 2006-2017
The land-use part of the municipal master plan was adopted by the Bergen City Government on 25 June 2007. In the
following, we will describe the factors underlying our application. The municipal master plan is based on an overriding
urban development goal and sub-goals for various development areas.
Municipal master plans overriding goal
Bergen shall provide good living conditions for all its inhabitants within the framework of environmentally friendly
development.
Municipal master plans objectives
Bergen shall be a city in which environmental considerations constitute an overriding principle in all activity and planning.
It shall emphasise health-promoting urban development by facilitating access to physical activity for all the citys
inhabitants.
Bergen shall provide a good and safe local environment for all its inhabitants. It shall provide its inhabitants with a sense
of cultural belonging and identity and ensure proximity and access to cultural and natural experiences.
Regional collaboration shall be strengthened, with main emphasis on commercial and industrial development, transport
solutions and the construction of housing. The Bergen area shall be an attractive region for trade and industry, with good
availability of areas that are suitable for business activities and well located in relation to housing and transport needs.
Bergen shall have housing for all who want to settle in Bergen. Universal design (accessibility for all) shall be a principle
in the construction of buildings, outdoor venues and transport solutions. The surroundings of all the citys inhabitants
shall be designed to promote equal functioning for everyone. All urban development shall pay close attention to
aesthetics and the citys distinctive character as well as to risk and vulnerability. The green areas shall be managed with
a long-term perspective.
Bergen shall have an environmentally friendly, safe and efcient transport system with separate infrastructures for public
transport and road haulage. Climate shall be a central consideration in all work on the development of the transport
system in Bergen.

Tegnforklaring

Utsnitt Bergen sentrum som viser fredete bygg

og anlegg og fornminne.

Fredet omrde
Kulturminne

Inndeling av det sentrale byomrdet i soner

relatert til bestemmelser og retningslinjer.

F
Hordvikneset

Fornminne

NF

Steinst

EN

1:15 000

RD

Klauvaneset

JO

H N

F
B2

SA
L

S8

B4

HU

SF

B3

Tellevik

B1

S7

I/K/L1

Hordvik

B5
Hylkje

I/K/L2

Salhus

NF

Falkanger

S35

S8

B7
Tellevikafjellet
Veten
B6

Havn

Baugtveitstemma

Hauks

Havn

S8

Breistein

B10

k
et

La

atn

I/K/L4

ng

I ava

Ulsetstemma

tn

et

I/K/L6

I
I

Vgsbotn
Li

atn

Hetlebakk

et

Flaktveit

Haukedal

S33

S8

Hetlebakkstemma

D/M2

stveitskogen

S31

Ytre Arna

Gaupsvatnet

Gaups

Kr

stveitvatnet

va

tnet

Rolland

Griggastemma

Hjortland

Eidsvgneset

stveit

NF

Eid
sv

g
en

Storsta
F

Setervatnet

Selvik

H
Jord

S32

Hellen

alsv
atne

B43
B12
B11

B47

yjorden

Langevatnet

gen
Arnav

B15

ed
St or

Tangelandsvatnet
Borge

rte

Skldalsfjellet

B19

S8

Ulriken

Liava
tne

S37

Minne

Skomakervatnet

S29
Solheim

I/K/L7

Tenebekktj.

Litlavatnet

Eikelifjellet

Bjrndalstj.

Hetlevik

va

tn

Utsnitt Trengereid - Skulstad

et

VA
KS

Gullfjellet

S11

Lvstakken

Lands

S10

Minde

Stemmevatnet

Haukelandsvatnet

Trengereid

Sm va

Gullfjelltjrnane

Nubbevatnet

Austefjellet

Landsfjellet

S12

Tv

tnet

va
eite

S.Skulstad

Unneland
Glvrevatnet

tnet

S13

Gulsteinen

Sdal

Gje

B48

rim

Bontveit

Totlandsfjellet

KO
MM
U

Myravatnet

H
H

Fisk H

atne

Dyngelandsvt.

Samdal

NF

Frotveitvatnet

Sviktj.

Skjold

Nords

S24

Frotveit

Riple

Skr ane

v.Totland

S17

H
H

Svik

Sreide

Dyngeland

I/K/L8
Ulsmg

S25

H
H

Storrinden

Langav
atnet

nv

H
H

Steinsvik

atnet
Myrdalsv

B25
S18

Ned.Totland
Fjellbirkeland

S19

Birkelandsvatnet

S20

vatnet

Tran

Srs

atne
ev

Myrdal

NF

B26

Sa

I/K/L11
H

B24
ttu

DolvikB32

Haugsdal
Lund
Nes

NF
Nordsvatnet

UN

B33

Hammersland

Hop

Kyrkjetangen

H
H

O
S

lsv

3
H
H

H H

H
B50
Hope

atne
t

H
H

NF

SA
M

Knappen

Fisk

Grimstad

S16

KO
M
M

mda

OR

ADFJ
IMST

Bnes

Kokstad

Liland

B30
R

I
Blomsterdalen

Apeltun

Ned.Birkeland

Haugland

Bjrnevatnet

tnet

tn
et

Orrtua

Hatlestad

idva
Grim

dlandsvt.

Almeland

Stendafjellet

Sandven

Skeissen

se

Espeland

NF

NF

B27

B28

Skeie

Sletten

D/M4

Valle

Rdalen

B42

S23

Gimmeland
tnet

S21
I
I
I

v.Birkeland

Fjelltveit

ava

I
I

Skeievatne

B31

Sti
gn

Hvardstun

B45

Smrs

Ulveva

Sandsli

dsvatnet

I/K/L10

Kirkebirkeland

vatnet
Apeltun

Havn

Hvardstunvt.

Birkelan

Skjenavatnet

Flesland

NA
NG
ER

Straume
DEN

Furedalsvatnet

atne

S15

Knappentjernet

B34

UN
MM
KO

Liavarden

Krkenes
H

NF
Slevatnet

B49

Hamre
Titlestad

Kaland

et
atn

Stendavatnet

H
H
H

H
HH

Klokkarvatnet

Fana

F H
Fanahammaren

Kismul

NF

S22

Lyngb

Fisk

Saganeset

tn

et

va

Hjellestad

Kalandseidet

NF

Hordnes

H
F

Sele

H
H

H H

FFNF

sv

Kalandsvatnet

Ha
ug

HH

A-sN

A-s
H
NFFisk Ferdselsomrde
H

Stend
la

Grimseid

H
N
H

ra

HH

Jo

nd

N
H

I
Mildevatnet

HH

NH

Milde

Fisk
HH

Salbu

Fanasta

Ulvvt.

Landbruk-, natur-, friluftsomrde (LNF)

LNF - spredt bolig

H
H

NF

Nordvikvatnet

Fisk

N
FA

AF

E
RD

OMRDER SOM ER BNDLAGT ELLER

SKAL BNDLEGGES ( 20-4, 1. ledd nr.4)

JO

Storavatnet

H
H

atne
alsv
Hisd

Krokeide

H
Havn

HN
NF

Korsnes

Militrt skytefelt
Fisk

NE
OM
MU
OS
K

LY
S

EF

JO

EN

Militrt forbudsomr.

FFNF

B46
H

FFNF N

Bndlegging etter lov om naturvern

Nordvik

H
N

Omrder som skal reguleres etter PBL

Sakstad

Bndlegging etter lov om kulturminner

OVERSIKT SENTEROMRDER
H

S1-S5
S6
S7
S8
S9
S10
S11
S12
S12b
S13
S14
S15
S16
S17
S18
S19
S20
S21
S22
S23
S24
S25
S26
S27
S28
S29
S30
S31
S32
S33
S34
S35
S36
S37

Bergen sentrum
Ikke i bruk
Hegreneset - hyhus maks 50 meter
Sjfronten
Laksevg - lokal senter type 1
Landstorget - lokal senter type 2
Wergeland - bybanestopp/lokalsenter
Sletten - bybanestopp/lokalsenter
Slettebakken - bybanestopp
Fjsanger - lokalsenter type 2
Fantoft - bybanestopp
Paradis - bybanestopp
Hop - bybanestopp
Nesttun - bydelsenter
Torsvei - bybanestopp
Kilden/Nordsdalen - lokalsenter type 2
Skjold skole - bybanestopp
Lagunen/Rdal - bydelsenter
Fanahammeren/Fana - lokalsenter type 2
Blomsterdalen - lokalsenter type 1
Fanatorget - lokalsenter type 1
Sreide - lokalsenter type 1
Oasen/Fyllingsdalen - bydelsenter
Loddefjord - bydelsenter
Drotningsvik - lokalsenter type 2
Lone - lokalsenter type 2
Indre Arna - bydelsenter
Ytre Arna - lokalsenter type 1
Eidsvg - lokalsenter type 1
sane - bydelsenter
Toppe - lokalsenter type 2
Salhus - lokalsenter type 2
Hauks/Myrster - lokalsenter type 2
Danmarksplass - lokalsenter type 1

Oppdatert: 28.04.2008

VIKTIGE LEDD I KOMMUNIKASJONSSYSTEMET

(PBL 20-4, 1.ledd nr.6)

Nvrende
Fremtidig Videreutvikling Havn Havn
T
T
Byggeomrde
Terminal
B
Boligomrde
Vegareal
S
Senteromrde
OVERSIKTSPLANRESTRIKSJONER
I/K/L
I/K/L Industri, kontor, lager
I/K/L
Omrde som er unntatt fra rettsvirkninger p.g.a. innsigelser
Offentlig bebyggelse
Omrde som er srskilt unntatt rettsvirkning
G
Grav- og urnelund
Restriksjoner etter annet lovverk enn PBL
Regulerte fri- og grntomrder>5 daa
Nedbrfelt for drikkevann
I
I
Idrettsanlegg
Nedbrfelt for Osvassdraget

LANDBRUKS- NATUR- OG FRILUFTSOMRDER

( 20-4.1. ledd nr. 2)

Lyseskarfjellet

Rd

KOMMUNEPLANENS AREALDEL 2006 - 2017 (2025)

AREALBRUK
BYGGEOMRDER
( 20-4.1. ledd nr. 1)

OMRDER FOR SRSKILT BRUK ELLER VERN

AV SJ OG VASSDRAG ( 20-4, 1. ledd nr.5)
Vann med restriksjon (drikkevann)
H
Smbthavn
FFNF Vannareal for allmenn flerbruk
Fisk Fiskeomrde
A
Akvakulturomrde
LNF-omrde i sj og vassdrag
F
Friluftsomrde i sj og vassdrag

Idrettsomrde

OMRDER FOR RSTOFFUTVINNING

( 20-4, 1. ledd nr.3)
D/M

Eksisterende

Deponi/Masseuttak

Byfjellsgrense
Hyspentlinjer
Flystysone 1
Flystysone 2
Flystysone 3
Flystysone 4
Flystripe
Kommunedelplaner
Forminneomrde med meldeplikt til Riksantikvaren
for alle planer/arealinngrep i sentrum
Meldepliktsone Avinor
Meldepliktsone Forsvaret
Omrdeavgrensning for maksimale byggehyder
i sentrumsomrdet
Omrdeavgrensning for parkeringsnorm sentrum og indre by
Omrdeavgrensning for arealanalyse Sreide
Bybanestopp Sentrum - Nesttun

D/M

Saksgang

1. gang

Oppstart, vedtak

19.09.2005

Kunngjring oppstart

05.10.2005

1. gangs behandling, vedtak

06.12.2006

2. gang

06.12.2006 - 01.02.2007

07.05.2006 - 06.06.2007

2. gangs behandling, vedtak

18.06.2007

13.03.2008, 10.04.2008

Bergen bystyre, vedtak

25.06.2007

31.03.2008, 28.04.2008

Offentlig ettersyn, fra - til

Fremtidig

Grense for arealbruksomrde

Hovedveg
Jernbane
Bybane
Skipsled
Funksjonell strandsone

OPPLYSNINGER

Annen srskilt bruk eller vern (NF, NFFisk, Ankringsplass)

I

JURIDISKE LINJESYMBOL

KOMMUNEPLANENS AREALDEL 2006 - 2017 (2025)

Plannummer: 19430000

3. gang

PDF: 22.05.2008

GR

B23

Nattland

Paradis

Bjrge

Skaret

Helldal

ev

ev
dd

Hilleren

B22

Fantoft

ER
NG
MNA

Dyrdalsvatnet

Rambjrvatnet

S14

Fjsanger

Varden

SA

NF

Grimen

NE

Ortuvatnet

S12b

tveit

Krtjrna

et

Bjrnd

Sylevatnet

Store-

atn

alsvatn
et

S26

Hkonsvern

Mathopen

Haukeland

Bjrndal

Slen

UN

Skulstadvatnet

Fyllingsdalen

LK
OM
M

N.Skulstad

Storavatnet

H
B35

DA

B21

B20

Lgdene

Markskiltjrna

Bjrndal

Skldal

Vassdalsvatnet

Nipetj.

G
S27

sa

Haukeland

B36

NF

rt av
at

Espeland

B19
I/K/L7

Svartatj.

FFNF

ne

Storfjellet

Damsgrdfjellet

B38

RAUNEFJORDEN

dik
et

S8

Store Lungegrdsvatnet

Lyderhorn

Storavatnet

Gullbotn
Gulltjrna

Grfjellet

B17

Tangeland

Sva

Grav
da

I/K/L14

Vadmyra

Repparsen
T
Krokavatnet

S8

Loddefjord

Arnatveit

et

Sv
a

et
lsvatn

S3
S2

B41

Alven

atn

S5

S8
Havn
Dokken

I/K/L6
S8

Kongshavn

Krtjrna

S1

I/K/L6

Lyngb

Hkonshella

ne
evat

B37

liv

S4

S9

Nygrd

B39

Laksevg

Stiavatnet

ge

Skomakerdiket

I/K/L13

Sklevikvatnet

rnafjellet

Drotningsvik

La
n

Revurtj.

S8

Nstet

EN

Gravdal

Olsvik

S28

Tind

iket

D
OR

B40

Holo

FJ

Godvik

Breivik N

S8

Trengereid

Herland

Rdland

Blmanen

V
ge
n

DE

Kjkkelvika

A n
v
Ha

A-s
Romslo

D/M3

Havn

D
PU

JO
YF

Nordnes

Risnes

I
I

Bjrndalsta

Skuteviken

Kvarven

Brstaneset

Tunes

B16

Tarlebvatnet

Sandviksfjellet

Indre Arna

Rundemanen

S8

B14
B13

S30

Mjeldheim
vre
Jordalsvatnet
Storevatnet

N
DE

Kvitebjrnen
A

Sandviken

S10

N.Skulstad

Vardegga

S8
S7

S11

I/K/L5
Munkebottsvatnet

Hegreneset

I/K/L7

NF

Kvamme
Jordal

Munkebotn

S8

S37

sheim

NF

BYFJORDEN

1:25 000

FORTETTINGS- OG TRANSFORMASJONSOMRDER
I/K/L6 - Laksevg
I/K/L7 - Nringskorridoren
I/K/L13 - Hyhus maks 27 meter
Omrdeavgrensning for maksimale
byggehyder i sentrumsomrdet
Omrdeavgrensning for parkeringsnorm sentrum og indre by

tnet
Stemmeva

Spkevatnet

Eidsvg

Biskopshavn

Garnes

Haugland

Lnborg

Helleneset

I/K/L7

SENTEROMRDER
S1 - Parkeringsnorm sentrum
S2 - Hyhus maks 50 meter
S3 - Hyhus maks 27 meter
S4 - Hyhus maks 27 meter
S5 - Hyhus maks 50 meter
S7 - Hyhus maks 50 meter
S8 - Sjfronten
S9 - Laksevg lokalsenter
S10 - Lands lokalsenter
S11 - Bybanestopp Wergeland
S37 - Danmarksplass lokalsenter

Ulsetsen

Tertnes

S8

S8

DE

Nyborg

OR
FJ

av

Ulset

S3
S2

I/K/L6

R
S

Novarinden

S5

S8
Havn

Fisk

Geitanuken
F
Morvik

S4

S9

sv

Toppe

S1

I/K/L13

Hau

I/K/L3

S8

B9

I
B44

S36
S34

D/M1

B8

Mjlkeren

Mlestokk: 1 :35 000

Saksnummer: 200311945

Land-use part of the municipal master plan (2006-2017), adopted 25 June 2007

The citys history and identity

Bergens long history has put its stamp on both the buildings and the people in the city; it is at the core of the identity and
character we associate with Bergen today. From approximately the year 1000 until 1830 Bergen was the largest city in
Norway, and it retains a strong urban tradition. Its different roles as political centre, international port, trading city, seat
of various religious orders and university town all manifest themselves in the buildings and urban landscape. The city
centre area has strong mediaeval traits and, despite numerous res, the buildings have been re-erected within the same
property boundaries, on the old foundations and in the same traditional style. If Bergen is to maintain its status as a city
with an important European city centre, then historical traditions must provide the premises for urban development. The
city aims to preserve and improve the qualities of the city centre area and to safeguard traditions in its densication of the
centres of the city districts and along the light rail corridor.
In Bergen there have always been close connections between town and country. There were farms around the city and
there are still areas close by where the buildings and landscape reect the old livelihoods and living conditions of people
outside the city centre. As a general rule, traditional farming is the best way of preserving the agricultural areas, but in
some cases it is relevant to give special protection to the cultural landscape.
The urban landscape and buildings
The setting of the city has led to a clearly demarcated city centre with the mountains as a permanent backdrop and the
sea never far away. The tightly packed and narrow structures give the impression of a continuous carpet covering the
landscape and weaving together the spaces between the mountains. The buildings are experienced as homogeneous,
without any out-of-scale individual houses. The municipal master plan proposes to make this pattern an overriding
principle for new buildings, which will be required to t into the cultural-historical landscape and conform to the heights of
existing buildings.
Densication of the city centre area, in the centres of the city districts, in the local centres and around the light rail stops
is an overriding objective. Greater density and higher buildings are planned along the light rail in particular. According
to the municipal master plan, increases in height will follow overall plans to ensure good coherence with the existing
buildings.
The municipal master plan envisages continuing Bergens historical tradition of single tall buildings for the authorities and
the church. Greater height may be considered in the case of buildings of special symbolic value or with socially important
assembly functions for the general public, and taller buildings may also be considered in the city centre area to reinforce
existing features of the urban landscape.
The urban spaces
The urban spaces and city squares (called almenninger, meaning commons) are a product of a mediaeval town
plan, of European urban traditions, sea transport, the West-Norwegian landscape, shortage of ground space, density of
population and the Bergen urban culture. The almenninger are physical expressions of a public right of access, and the
physical space can be perceived as an example of the right of every individual to participate in processes relating to the
development of the city.
The historical qualities of the urban spaces are the citys greatest asset and form the basis for city life, experiences and
identity. The blend of residential houses, shops, ofces and businesses makes the urban spaces busy thoroughfares,
places to linger and venues for numerous activities all day long. The locations and qualities of the urban spaces are the
backbone of the citys movement pattern. These qualities should serve as a model for urban structure in the densication
areas.
4

The city centre

The centre of Bergen, with its concentration of economic, social
and cultural activity, is a dominant pivot in the urban structure.
Good accessibility, pedestrian friendly zones and the prioritisation
of public transport are essential if the centre is to serve its function
and maintain its attraction. All handling of heavy goods should
be removed from the centre, which must also be protected
against unnecessary road trafc. Environmental qualities will be
emphasised. The improvement of streets and urban spaces has
high priority in the Bergen Programme (2010-2015). The City has
also contributed substantially to this development over its own
budgets.

Pedestrians have been given high priority in

the centre of Bergen.

Industrial and commercial areas

Bergen wants to strengthen its position as an attractive city for expertise-intensive businesses and commercial service
providers. These businesses are very interested in locations near the city centre. There are substantial transformation
areas in central parts of the city that will generate continued growth in new housing developments and new jobs. The
three further development areas, the business corridor, Midtun and Laksevg, cover a total of approximately 375 acres.
All the central areas dened in the municipal master plan also represent great potential for ofces and service industries.
Regulations and guidelines have been drawn up for the establishment of retail businesses in Bergen. It is recommended
to locate large retail businesses in the centres of the city districts or the city centre. Stores for space-intensive goods can
be located in some of the industrial areas provided there is good access to the transport system.
The strategic business plan is rooted in Bergen Scenarios 2020, which is a unique collaborative project involving private
and public sector players. The object of Bergen Scenarios 2020 is to promote value creation in Bergen and Hordaland.
The project has drawn up two scenarios visualising possible developments in the Bergen area up until 2020.
Housing construction
Over the last 30 years housing construction has accounted for the greatest urban growth in terms of area. Despite the
recent intensication of housing construction in the centre, population growth has still been greatest in the outermost
city districts. The current master plan intends to reverse this trend by utilising more development areas for housing and
business purposes nearer the city centre.
The recommendation is to build 1,500 new housing units per year during the plan period, with a clear focus on
densication in and around the centres of the city districts, the local centres and around the light railway stops. Sixty per
cent of the building is planned as densication and forty per cent as eld development. The next few years will also see
the construction of 2,000 new student housing units and other rental housing.

The transport system

Bergens topography and road network mean that a lot of the
trafc between the city districts also goes through the centre of
Bergen, and the demand for transport is greatest on the arteries
leading in to the centre. Population development in outer urban
areas and neighbouring municipalities is also generating an
increasing need for transport across the urban region.
A land-use policy that reduces the need for transport and
facilitates attractive alternative forms of transport such as buses,
light rails, cycling and walking will in the long run lead to cleaner
city air and lower emissions of greenhouse gases. Slower trafc
growth is therefore an important element of the citys overriding
transport strategy.
The public transport city extends about ten
kilometres out from the centre

The proposed Norwegian National Transport Plan 2010-2019 estimates an annual growth in trafc in Bergen of two
percent in the plan period. Records from recent years (2002-2007) show that the trafc in Bergen is growing by 3-4 per
cent per year. Use of public transport declined throughout the 1990s, but has risen again by a total of 8.5 per cent since
2004. Hordaland County Council has resolved to use public transport to deal with trafc growth in the coming years, and
the City of Bergen supports this strategy.
The City of Bergens draft Strategy for public transport in Bergen (December 2005) is based on a differentiation of
the urban area in relation to the envisaged role of public transport. In this strategy the city is divided into three zones:
the centre, the public transport city and nearby environments. The public transport city in Bergen extends about ten
kilometres out from the centre and serves about 70 per cent of the citys population, 90 per cent of the jobs and 80 per
cent of public transport users. It is primarily within this area that investments in public transport can ensure efciency,
accessibility and environmentally friendly trafc solutions for all types of journeys, including leisure trips.
Healthy urban planning green areas
The city is approaching the limit with respect to how far urban sprawl can be allowed to encroach on the green areas.
The drawing of a boundary (the ANR [agriculture, nature and recreation] boundary) between building development
zones and green areas is being considered for the whole city. If the city is to improve its attractiveness and
competitiveness, the mountains around the city (the city mountains) and the areas along the coast and fjords must be
made as accessible as possible to the public. Today, most of the city mountains have their own management plans which
clearly demarcate the limits for building development. The municipal master plan facilitates the long-term management
of the coastal zone by reserving new coastal recreation areas for the public and paying attention to the long-term
management of the functional shoreline belt.
In drawing up the municipal master plan, it has been important to check and identify the best places to draw the ANR
boundary. In places where it is natural or possible, the ANR boundary follows the boundary for the city mountains. The
plan points out that the ANR boundary should remain xed for the 12-year plan period. It is proposed to set aside 13
areas along the shore to be zoned for recreation or outdoor pursuit areas. Establishing green areas in the individual
city districts will also have a positive impact on the greenhouse gas accounts since it will reduce transport and thus also
carbon emissions.
6

The preservation and development of agriculture in Bergen is another important objective. In addition to greatly
beneting the urban environment, local agricultural production for a local market has a positive impact on the demand for
transport, reducing carbon emissions. Agriculture is necessary to preserve the cultural landscape and it makes a positive
contribution by absorbing some of the abundant precipitation.
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE BERGEN PROGRAMME
When the Bergen Programme for transport, city development and the environment (2002-2015) has been completed,
the city will still face major challenges on the environmental and transport fronts. Road trafc is now the dominant source
of local air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Fifty-four per cent of carbon emissions in Bergen come from road
trafc, and the percentage is increasing every year. The problem is greatest in the city centre area and the Bergen valley.
The trafc load must be reduced in the central parts of the city if we are to prevent the air pollution in these areas
becoming a health risk to large groups of the population. The parking policy must be designed to motivate more people to
use public transport between the city districts and the centre.
On 13 March 2008 the City Government recommended the City Council to pass the following resolution:
The City of Bergen stresses the importance of continuing the second stage in the construction of the light rail from
Nesttun to Rdal and the second stage in the construction of the western ring road from Sandeidet to Liavatn with no
pause in construction work. The City of Bergen also assumes that the Skansen tunnel will be completed in the rst part
of the period and investments in paths and tracks for pedestrians and cyclists will be increased at least threefold in the
period 2010-2019. A minimum of NOK 100-200 million per year must be earmarked for miscellaneous items in the period
2010-2019.
In the near future, the City Government will submit a proposal to continue the Bergen Programme for the period
2010-2019. If the City Council and the County Council follow the recommendation of the City Government, the further
development of the transport system in Bergen will include the following main projects in the period 2010-2019:
-

Extension of the light rail from Nesttun to Rdal with no pause in construction work after the rst construction
stage
Strong focus on the development of the network of pedestrian and cycle paths and tracks
Completion of the western ring road
Building of the Skansen tunnel to relieve the city centre of road trafc
Further investment in environmental measures in the city centre.

MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR WATERCOURSES

A CORNERSTONE OF THE MUNICIPALITYS WATERCOURSE MANAGEMENT
Many of the large watercourses near the city are considerably polluted, mainly as a result of leakages and capacity
problems in the sewerage network. Watercourses must be clean before they can be perceived as an asset and used
as an arena for recreation. Tackling the pollution problem is therefore regarded as the most important challenge in
watercourse management in the years to come.
In addition to this, Bergen faces a considerable challenge with regard to averting damaging encroachments into and
along the watercourses. Other challenges include the need to ensure public access to areas around the watercourses
for recreation, the handling of conicts of interest around water use and the watercourses, the securing of biological
diversity in relation to the watercourses, the managing of hydrological changes resulting from changes in land use
and preparation for consequences of climate change, such as increased ood danger.
Work commenced on the management plan for watercourses using these issues as a starting point. The object of this
work was to contribute to building knowledge about watercourse culture in Bergen and to set the municipal strategies
for achieving sustainable, uniform and coordinated watercourse management in future. Among other things, the plan
shall:

Visualise values, interests and challenges in and around the watercourses

Clarify positions of responsibility and authority in connection with Bergens total watercourse management
Draw up strategies for preserving and developing watercourse values
Propose an action plan.

Bergen is a member of the Watercourse committee for West Norway. The committee is chaired by the County Governor
of Hordaland. The counties of Sogn og Fjordane and Hordaland are participating in the collaboration. Work is currently in
progress on management plans for Nordsvannet lake and the Strynevassdraget watercourse.

ACTION PLAN FOR BETTER AIR IN BERGEN

Measurements in Bergen have shown an improvement in air quality since the mid-1990s. However, measurements in
recent years indicate a renewed deterioration in quality. Some of the uctuations are due to the weather in the winter
months, road trafc and more wood-red heating following on higher electricity prices.
At Danmarksplass, the regulatory permitted level for annual nitrogen dioxide concentrations, stipulated to protect human
health, will be exceeded within the next few years. If this trend continues, the regulatory requirements for evaluating and
proposing remedial action will be exceeded as early as 2008.
In 2007, the 2004 action plan for better air was revised in collaboration with a number of other municipal agencies, as
well as with the Port Authority, the Public Roads Administration, the County Governor, the County Council, the National
Rail Administration and Avinor (formerly the Norwegian civil aviation authority). The collaborative forum on air and
noise acted as a reference group. The work was based on national measurements of air quality. The main strategy is
to implement measures targeting the causes of air pollution in Bergen rather than the symptoms. Relevant measures to
counteract nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, carbon dioxide and noise have been evaluated for cost and effect.
The action plan will roll over every second year and will be reviewed again in the autumn of 2010. The programme
includes the following measures:
ACTION AREA

MEASURES

Trafc control

1.
2.

Vehicle control

3.
4.

Evaluate peak-load pricing and facilitate more attractive

public transport services.
Develop park-and ride-solutions (incentive parking) and
control parking in the city centre
Tax on studded tyres combined with a scrap vehicle payment
system, intensied winter maintenance and information
Prepare introduction of low emission zone

Wood-ring

5.

Grants to city centre households that replace old wood-red

stoves

Enterprises and individuals

6.

Good travelling and driving habits,

mobility advice/ eco-driving training

Vessels in port

7.

Reduce emissions from vessels in port through use of

onshore electricity

Prevention

8.

Street cleaning, brushing and salting of the most polluted

stretches of road
Warnings on the radio and in the press on days with high air
pollution

9.
Internal municipal measures and inuencing
measures

10. Putting ones own house in order measures and measures

to inuence public attitudes
9

RISK AND VULNERABILITY ADAPTATIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE

The sea is rising as a consequence of rising water temperatures and ice-melting on land. At the same time the ground is
rising due to the ice that weighed down Fenno-Scandinavia during the last Ice Age. At present, the increases in sea and
land levels are almost in balance along the coast of western Norway. However, with global warming the sea is expected
to rise between half a metre and a metre more than the land towards the end of this century. In time, this will pose a
serious challenge to the existing infrastructure and it will also be necessary to design new infrastructure to cope with the
steadily rising sea levels.

Estimated rise in sea level measured in cm along the Norwegian coast in the year 2100 compared with 2000 given a
business-as-usual greenhouse gas scenario. As a reference, the light-coloured columns illustrate an increase in water
levels of 100 cm. From Drange, Marzeion, Nesje and Sorteberg, Up to one metre higher water level along the Norwegian
coast in the year 2100, CICERONE, 2, 2007.
Water level meters around the world show that the global sea level has risen by approximately 17 cm in the last hundred
years. Furthermore, we know that the rise in sea level has accelerated since the early 1990s. Measurements from
satellites after 1993 show that the sea is now rising a good three millimetres per year, which is twice as fast as the mean
for the last hundred years. We also know that the sea will keep rising for a long time to come; it will continue for hundreds
of years even after mankind has managed to control its greenhouse gas emissions. This means that we will need both to
adapt to the changes that will come and to plan ahead so as to avoid nasty surprises as a result of higher sea levels.
A recently conducted analysis indicates that the sea will probably rise by 70 cm or more along the southern and western
coast a good 60 cm in the north and about 40 cm at the heads of the Oslo and Trondheim fjords, see Figure 1. These
gures include the effect of the land rising and therefore show how much the sea will have risen in relation to the land in
a hundred years.

10

The Nansen-Bjerknes Centre for Climate and Ocean Research is currently under formation in Bergen. The new centre
is the result of the organisational merger of the Nansen Centre and the Bjerknes Centre and will provide Bergen with a
leading centre for research into climate and environmental issues. The new centre will be partially funded by external
support from trade and industry and administrative agencies. The City of Bergen has also been urged to provide
funding.
In the City Governments opinion, the formation of the Nansen-Bjerknes Centre for Climate and Ocean Research is an
important contribution to the local climate and environment efforts. A centre of this kind with national and international
clout will also stimulate industrial and commercial development in the environmental eld in Bergen. This has been an
important building block in the City Governments political platform, which states, among other things, that:
The City Government wishes to make Bergen a leading player in the area of environmentally friendly technological
solutions and environmental research. In collaboration with the research communities in Bergen, the City Government
wishes to work for the localisation of a national climate research centre in Bergen. The groundwork must be laid for the
establishment of industrial clusters and education in the elds of environment and climate.
The change in sea level is of vital interest to the urban community. The possible rise in sea level is already an issue
in planning the Bergen of the future, but updated knowledge will make an important contribution to future urban
development.
The City of Bergen has put a lot of effort into implementing RAV analyses in all planning and processing of building and
development permits. The land-use part of the municipal master plan includes the following provision:
Where necessary, RAV analyses will be included in land-use planning and when processing applications for
development and building permits. The analyses will be limited to relevant issues and the scope adapted to the
individual case. The need for remedial action and the provisions for consecutive ordering must be claried.
Legal authority: Norwegian Planning and Building Act section 68, Norwegian Public Administration Act section 17.
There are a number of factors that may trigger a requirement for an RAV analysis, for example a gradient of more than
27 degrees. An RAV analysis will be required for any new development localised to areas below the 2.5 contour line.
The same applies to areas exposed to strong winds, oods or debris ows. These factors are described in more detail in
the municipal master plan.

11

CLIMATE AND ENERGY ACTION PLAN A LONG-TERM PROGRAMME

Climate, energy and the environment have been incorporated into the land-use part of the municipal master plan
adopted on 25 June 2007. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and a good urban environment thus form an
integral part of the municipal land-use and transport policies. In 2008 and 2009 the City of Bergen will be preparing a
climate and energy action plan. Among other things, this will set concrete targets for greenhouse gas emissions and
energy consumption as well as show how Bergen can achieve a global warming reduction of 50 per cent carbon dioxide
equivalents in the period 1991-2030.
Despite the reduction in emissions from landlls and oil-ring, greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow every year. In
the period 1991-2006 they rose by 14 per cent. Reducing these emissions poses a great challenge to Bergen, especially
as 55 per cent of the emissions come from road trafc, which has grown by an average of 3-4 per cent annually in
Bergen over the last few years.
The City of Bergen was rst off the mark with a climate plan in 1999. The goal adopted in this plan was the same as
Norways Kyoto goal, i.e. a three per cent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in relation to the 1991 level in the
period 2008-2012.
The climate and energy action plan to be presented in 2009 will contain new and more ambitious goals that are more in
line with the cross-political agreement on Norwegian climate policy. A 4-5 year action plan is assumed to be part of the
municipal authorities work.
The citys businesses and its inhabitants will be involved in drawing up the action plan, allowing them to own the
processes and actions. In 2008, a new position as Head of Climate Affairs was created in the City Governments
Department of Climate, Environmental Affairs and Urban Development to lead this work.
The land-use part of the municipal master plan recommends the use of indicators for carbon dioxide emissions and other
factors for which annual reports are relevant. Further work is being done on this, and it may prove to be a good way of
obtaining information about developments in the city in connection with the work on the 4-5 year action plan.
This work will examine ways of reducing greenhouse gases from mobile sources and promote the use of green energy
solutions in new and already existing buildings. It will also make visible the connection between land-use policy and
development patterns on the one hand and emissions, energy consumption and impact on climate on the other. The City
of Bergens own agencies and external players will be involved in the work.

Stationary 22%
Process 4%
Landll 9%
Mobile consumption 10%
Road trafc 55%

12

Greenhouse gas emissions in Bergen in 2006 broken down by source ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
On 19 November 2007 the City Council resolved to introduce environmental management into all of the City of Bergens
activities. This means that all municipal units will be ISO 14 001 or Eco-lighthouse certied. The Green Flag will be
introduced for schools and kindergartens.
The public sector faces considerable environmental challenges. The City Council therefore considers it vital to take
initiative as rapidly as possible with regard to its own employees, the people of Bergen, trade and industry and state
authorities, and to promote an awareness of the important challenges we face locally in environmental and climate
issues.
An important effect of environmental certication will be to make the organisation more aware of the environmental work
already in progress and give people a better idea of what is required to consolidate the environmental effect. The City
Councils goal is for all municipal activities to obtain environmental certication by the end of 2009.
The following items were adopted when the City Council considered the case:
1.

The City of Bergen will introduce environmental management into its organisation through environmental
certication of all municipal units and by coordinating it with the Balanced Scorecard, the existing
management and reporting system.

2.

The City of Bergen will build necessary internal expertise and provide tuition and training according to EcoLighthouse and Green Flag rules.

3.

Schools and kindergartens will be offered tuition and training in accordance with Green Flag certication
requirements and the other municipal units in the requirements for obtaining Eco-Lighthouse certication.

4.

Provided that the City of Bergen focuses on the Green Flag and Eco-Lighthouse certication schemes, the
City Council will support the GRIP (Green in Practice) recommendations for good process and optimum result.
The City Council assumes that further work will be carried out in accordance with the recommendation.

The City Government has already decided to set up a climate fund based on a previous provision of NOK 10 million for
climate and environmental measures. NOK 2.5 million of the climate fund has been earmarked for certication work.
In its activities, the City of Bergen already has an adequate system for waste, discharges into water and aesthetics,
but there is great room for improvement in the transport sector. Through better organisation of the car population,
eco-driving training and greater use of videoconferences the City can protect the environment and save a substantial
amount of money potentially several million NOK.

13

CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Today, mankind faces huge challenges with respect to future climate changes and their consequences. Local air
pollution and greenhouse gas emissions are part of our everyday life and play a prominent role in deciding the premises
for our future. Both the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) have highlighted the focus on sustainable
development in a number of different issues and international agreements.
Sustainable development has been on the specialist and political agenda for many years, with an overall focus on
the economic, social and environmental aspects. Despite this, neither the targets for greenhouse gas reductions nor
international, national and local climate targets are being met. The UN Climate Panel states clearly that if we are to
prevent a worst-case scenario we need binding agreements and action within the next 10-20 years
However, whatever happens, we will not be able to avoid climate change and adaptation to the changes will therefore be
an important factor to be considered in connection with sustainable development.
In todays situation, the individual has no guaranteed right to sustainable decisions being made through either national
or international governance. Fragmented political responsibility at all levels exposes coming generations to uncertainty,
insecurity and a lack of sustainable decisions that can guarantee the future of our planet.
The Rio Declarations principle that the polluter should pay applies to individuals, businesses, organisations and many
others, but not to states. Under todays rules, cross-border pollution is tolerated and states have no liability beyond any
agreements they might have signed. The Bergen Charter of Climate Change and Human Rights wishes to add a new
dimension to the UN and EU principle of sustainable development the human rights dimension. This would mean
extending the sustainability principle to include not only economic and social development and environmental protection
but also human-rights aspects. The Convention must focus on the public right, the right of the individual to an extended
accessibility concept the right to a society which focuses on democracy, social economy, air that we can breathe and
the worth of the individual. Education, dissemination of knowledge and information about these rights must play an
important role in the Bergen Charter.
The legal work on the convention will be exemplied by means of a concrete urban development case from Bergen
a management model in which these aspects and dimensions are duly represented. An extension of the model from
the Damsgrdssundet project, with a clear human rights prole, may be a good place to start. Collaboration should be
established with similar case projects in other cities and countries. In Bergen, we have a local expert milieu engaged
in research into central topics that are relevant to the work on a new human rights convention with a holistic academic
superstructure.
EUROPEAN CLIMATE FORUM
Bergen has recently, as the only city in Europe, been invited to become a member of the ECF. The primary reason for
this invitation is that Bergen is collaborating with local research institutions on the development of a local climate model
and is also studying ways in which human rights could be introduced as a fourth dimension, in addition to the economic,
social and environmental dimensions, of the UNs climate policy. The work being carried out by the City of Bergen in
connection with the New energy round Damsgrdssundet project has also attracted interest. These plans will make
Bergen a model city in the ECF collaboration.

14

1 LAND USE AND TRANSPORT

PRIORITISED PROJECTS IN THE PROJECT PERIOD 2009-2014

1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
1.10
1.11
1.12

Planning and further development of the light rail network

Densification along the light rail and development of city centre areas
Parking
Evaluation of peak load pricing
Low emission zones
Cycle paths/tracks
Development of agriculture in Bergen
Recreation and green structure
Bergen watercourses
- a source of positive natural and cultural experiences
Pedestrian routes and universal design
Information strategy for increased use of local recreation facilities
Onshore electricity for vessels in port

15

REASONS FOR PRIORITISATIONS

See the description of the land-use part of the municipal master plan. The projects included in the priority area of land
use and transport will improve the urban environment and promote better urban development with lower greenhouse gas
emissions.
Work on the construction of the light rail in Bergen started on 7 January 2008. Bergen is the rst city in Norway to have
started to build this type of transport system. Since it is an attractive proposition to localise housing and jobs in areas
with good public transport, the light rail will also be important to the other priority areas described in this application.
The construction of the district heating network in the same corridor as the light rail will reinforce this development, with
respect to both land use and densication. A drop in the demand for land in the peripheral areas of the city will result in
lower energy requirements and lower emissions of greenhouse gases.
It is therefore proposed that the densication process should pay considerable attention to establishing good urban
space structures with interplay between historical structures, cultural monuments, landscape features, common
functions, public transport and lines of vision. Requirements should be made regarding proportions and coherence
between the different facades as well as the functional content of the urban spaces. Universal design, prioritisation of
pedestrian axes, speed-reducing driving patterns and the function of urban spaces both as places to spend time and as
social and cultural arenas must all be taken into account when planning.
A denser and more multifunctional centre presupposes a transport system that provides good frameworks for the urban
areas that have been rendered calmer. In Bergens dense urban structure, the light rail and an improved public transport
system will provide necessary long-term frameworks for new qualities. It is vital that the overall urban space structure
provide a reliable high-quality framework for the densication and transformation that is currently ongoing in the city
centre area. The facades towards important urban spaces must contribute to making the spaces attractive, light and safe
24 hours a day.
Bergen has implemented universal design in all of its planning and building permission processing. In 2006 Bergen drew
up a separate accessibility report, and its municipal master plan includes provisions for universal design. In collaboration
with the County Council, Bergen has created a new specialist position for this area.
In the years ahead, Bergens parking policy will be given new focus, with greater priority being given to incentive parking
along the main public transport axes into the city. Bergen expects this, along with other transport policy measures,
to result in a gradual transition to greener forms of transport. Another measure that will have a similar effect is the
prioritisation of cycle paths, especially in and around the centre. Bergen will also facilitate the use of bicycles for transport
to the light rail stops.
In the next few years Bergen will give high priority to good and long-term management of the green areas to the
benet of the citys inhabitants. This will involve adapting areas for recreation and outdoor pursuits and making the city
mountains and watercourses as accessible as possible through good management plans.

16

PRIORITISED PROJECTS IN THE PROJECT PERIOD 2009-2014

The following projects will be worked on in the autumn of 2008 to produce concrete action plans for the period 20092014. Most of the projects that are presented have already been planned or initiated. The work schedule of the projects
will mainly coincide with the project period for Cities of the Future.
Project 1.1 Planning and further development of the Bergen light rail network (separate project sheet)
The City of Bergen and Hordaland County Council are working to nd a way of funding the construction of the light rail
as far as Rdal by the end of 2012. If they succeed, it will be extended by 3.5 km as far as Rdal, continuing from the
rst stage without any pause in construction work.
The municipal master plan shows a light rail system with a commuter service running between the airport and the sane
Senter complex, with a line from the centre of Bergen via Haukeland hospital to Fyllingsdalen and on to Loddefjord.
Densication potential for housing and workplaces along a light rail system has been evaluated as shown in the gures
below.
System A currently has 61,000 housing units within 800 metres of a light rail stop. An estimated 42,000 new housing
units can be built around the light rail stops in this system. Today, there are 102,000 jobs within walking distance of a
light rail stop in system A. This means that 90 per cent of current workplaces in Bergen will be within walking distance of
a light rail stop. Calculations show that at least 50,000 new jobs can be established within walking distance of the stops.
System B has a slightly higher densication potential than system A.

The two different systems

for a fully developed light
rail system in Bergen
A

Either system will make it possible to reach all the city district centres within a travelling time of approximately 20
minutes from the centre of Bergen. In the west it will be natural to connect the light rail to Sotra and Asky. Substantial
growth in Fjell municipality and the consequent increase in trafc indicate that it is advisable to give priority to public
transport between Sotra and the centre of Bergen. In the long term, the light rail to Loddefjord can be extended to
Straume in Fjell municipality. In its consultation statement about the national transport plan, Fjell municipality supports
this strategy, and the City Government of Bergen supports the immediate initiation of zoning work for a larger light rail
network.

17

Project 1.2 Densication along the light rail and development of city centre areas
The municipal master plan recommends high and intensive development within 200 metres walking distance of the light
rail stops, adapted to local conditions such as terrain, building type and existing activities. The light rail will pass through
areas of varying character as regards urban structure, population density, trafc and land use, and it will therefore be
natural to give the centres different functions in view of the kind of area they will be serving.
Within a short time, a strategy programme will be drawn up for each of the light rail stops. The strategy programmes will
be a follow-up of the municipal master plan and will provide a more detailed physical design for the light rail stops and
the local centres. They will include targeted decisions based on a vision of the kind of place the light rail stops, the central
areas, and the city districts will become. Environmental considerations will weigh heavily. The strategy programmes will
include:

The central area of the place, seen in relation to what the centre will entail
Solutions in the peripheral zone
More detailed denition of measures where the municipal authorities can play a role in relation to consecutive
ordering provisions and development contracts
Denition of the heart/centre of the place
Requirements with regard to energy and environmental solutions

Project 1.3 Parking

The City of Bergen has implemented new norms for its parking policy in the municipal master plan. In the budget for
2008, a sum of NOK 40 million has been earmarked for incentive parking. The plan is to move some of the parking
capacity away from the central city area to incentive parking sites on the outskirts. The elimination of street parking and
getting all cars in the city centre area into car parks is also a priority area for Bergen. It will then be important to develop
the streets and urban spaces into social arenas and pedestrian zones.
Incentive parking is one of several elements in a total transport policy and will need to interact with other measures.
Incentive parking facilities must be located conveniently for users of through bus services between the city districts, not
just for those using services in and out of the centre.
The ambition level for incentive parking interlocks with other transport policy measures and car-use restrictions will
strengthen the justication for building incentive parking facilities.

18

On 13 March 2008 the City Government recommended that the City Council
pass a resolution on incentive parking facilities. The following are some of
the most important points in this recommendation:
The establishment of incentive car-parking facilities for 600 vehicles to begin
with. Priority will be given to facilities along the light rail.
It is an objective to increase the proportion of cyclists in Bergen. Cycle
parking is one of several incentives to get more people to use green forms
of transport, and is an inexpensive measure that is not space-consuming.
All major stops, public transport hubs and incentive parking facilities should
provide secure cycle parking.
In the short term, NOK 4.6 million (of a total framework of NOK 40 million)
will be earmarked for creating 740 new cycle parking places. Cycle parks
will be established along the light railway as an integral part of the stops.
Incentive parking facilities in Bergen will be located
at the most important public transport hubs.

Project 1.4 Evaluation of peak load pricing

The City Government has resolved to study the impact of peak load pricing in Bergen on the basis of experiences from
Stockholm and London and other European cities. Among other things, they will compare the cities in question with
respect to settlement pattern, labour market, social infrastructure and public transport services. The work will commence
in 2008.
Project 1.5 Low emission zones
The City of Bergen wants to establish low emission zones for heavy goods vehicles, possibly implementing a trial
scheme. The City Government is preparing the groundwork for this scheme, but its implementation will depend on
central government decisions. The City Government is aware that the Directorate of Public Roads has sent a letter to
the Ministry of Transport and Communications proposing a low emission zone scheme. The proposal would include an
amendment to section 13 of the Norwegian Road Trafc Act with pertaining draft regulations. In a letter dated 31 March
2008 the Directorate of Public Roads conrms that it is very interested in Bergen starting the planning of a low emission
zone in the near future.
There are currently about 60 cities in Western Europe planning to introduce low emission zones and about ten such
zones have already been established. The letter from the Directorate of Public Roads is appended to this application.
Project 1.6 Cycle paths/ tracks (separate project sheet)
In the period 2010-2019 Bergen wants to increase its investments in the construction of pedestrian and cycle paths/
tracks at least threefold in relation to the period 2006-2015. The proposal to continue and develop the Bergen
programme includes a suggestion for nancing these investments.
A new, improved system of cycle paths is an important part of the Bergen programme and an important strategy in
the land-use part of the municipal master plan. The overriding goal is better health, a better environment and greater
enjoyment.
Cycling as a means of transport will be given priority because investments in this will provide the greatest cost benet
in terms of the environment and health. The potential for transition from car use to cycle use is greatest in this segment.
Cycling competes with car-use on shorter journeys and may take some pressure of the road network. Priority is given to
measures nearest the city centre and in the south, where the population density is greatest.

19

Project 1.7 Development of agriculture in Bergen

Bergen is a substantial agricultural/forestry municipality in Hordaland. Agriculture/forestry will be developed by following
up the agriculture and forestry plan and will promote:

short-journey/ local and ecological food production

experiences in the cultural landscape shaped by agriculture
sustainable utilisation of Bergens forestry resources, for example by developing concepts for the use of
bioenergy based on local woodland resources

These measures will have a positive impact on climate in that that local agricultural production for a local market will help
to reduce the need for transport and thereby also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Local bioenergy sources will reduce the need for transport.
Project 1.8 Recreation and green structure (separate project sheet)
The project is intended to lay the foundations for attractive recreational areas near to where people live and move and in
the city centre. The Outdoor Recreation report contains a number of measures to promote this goal. A number of areas
are important for local recreation:

Preparing the walking/skiing areas Lvstien, Hauks, Gjeddevatn, Vestparken etc.

Continuing the work on reserving recreational areas/swimming spots in the shoreline belt.
Implementing measures in the prioritised watercourses, cf. management plan for watercourses
- including implementing four-year plan for the Nesttun watercourse
Implementing measures in the city mountains, cf. management plan for the city mountains.
Developing new and attractive urban spaces, including a waterfront promenade along Damsgrdssundet.
Renovating parks and green areas in the city, including Nygrd park.

These measures will have a positive impact on climate in that they will reduce the need to travel out of ones own city
district for recreational experiences. Transport and therefore also greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced.
Project 1.9 The Bergen watercourses a source of positive natural and cultural experiences
On the basis of the work already carried out in the management plan for watercourses, efforts will continue in three
areas:

20

Clear overview and good specialist know-how. In this project a number of goals relating to the City of Bergens
need for professional expertise in the eld and for good management of the municipal water and watercourse
resources have been proposed.

Active and aware citizens and decision-makers. Several measures have been proposed to support the City of
Bergens attitude-forming work in this area. Efforts targeting schools are considered important.

Coordinated public agencies. The goal here is for the City of Bergen to organise its activities in a manner that
will preserve and develop values and interests relating to the Bergen watercourses in compliance with, among
other things, the EU Water Framework Directive and other international agreements.

Project 1.10 Pedestrian routes and universal design (separate project sheet)
More details about pedestrian axes and green structures in the city centre area are provided on the separate project
sheet. In the coming years, reducing the need to travel outside ones own city district for recreational experiences will be
an overriding goal.
This project will create new opportunities for people in the city through the opening of pedestrian routes connecting large
stretches of waterfront with natural green areas. In the steep terrain, old footpaths will be upgraded and good qualities
ensured along the links with the new urban development areas along the waterfront. Public use of the harbour areas will
be considered in all development plans.
Project 1.11 Information strategy for increased use of local recreation facilities
The aim of this project is to improve accessibility to the outdoor recreational areas in Bergen and make them easier to
nd for its inhabitants. Some concrete measures that will be taken are:

signposting and putting up information boards in the terrain

developing the Citys website in this area
preparing suitable brochures/printed matter

Project 1.12 Onshore electricity to vessels in port

Discussions are ongoing about the possibility of connecting onshore electricity to vessels in port. Existing proposals
go in for new electricity production in a combined natural gas-based power/heat system with the possibility of using
biogas at a later date. If this project materialises, it will be a collaborative venture involving the City of Bergen, Bergen
interkommunale havn (intermunicipal ports) and Gasnor.
The City Government will submit a case to the City Council on the provision of electricity to vessels in port as soon as
practicably possible. It will be considered during the course of 2008 whether this is something Bergen will go in for.

MAIN PLAYERS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PRIORITISED PROJECTS:

Norwegian Public Roads Administration
Hordaland County Council
The City of Bergen
Bergen Port authority
The County Governor
Various special interest organisations
21

2 STATIONARY ENERGY

PRIORITISED PROJECTS IN THE PROJECT PERIOD 2009-2014

2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.9
2.10
2.11

22

Guidelines for energy efficient buildings in new development areas

Construction of passive housing in Sdalen
Construction of new indoor swimming hall and upper secondary school with
forward-looking energy solutions
New Sreide school
Passive house standard in council houses for disadvantaged persons
Replacement of oil boilers outside the district-heating licence area
Ny Krohnborg school a new local centre with energy and environmental ambitions
Rehabilitation of council housing
Extension of district heating in Bergen
Local district heating network
New renewable energy production

REASONS FOR PRIORITISATION IN THE PROJECT PERIOD

Energy use in all forms is closely linked to greenhouse gas emissions. With regard to stationary energy, this is an
important priority area for Bergen which is focusing strongly on reducing the use of fossil energy and electricity for
heating.
Stationary energy consumption increases from year to year, with households accounting for the greatest amount (46
per cent). Electricity accounts for as much as 76 per cent of stationary energy consumption, oil and parafn for 12.1 per
cent, gas for 2.9 per cent, waste for 6.4 per cent and biomass for 2.6 per cent. The greatest challenges lie in reducing
energy consumption in general and the use of electricity for heating in particular. Bergen has a relatively high potential
for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from stationary energy consumption by phasing out oil boilers and replacing
them with renewable energy sources. It will be important in future to use efcient and exible energy solutions with
a strong emphasis on renewable energy. New buildings and major rehabilitation projects are priority areas, as is the
implementation of measures in existing buildings.
District heating
The development of the district heating network has been a priority area since 1999 and deliveries of district heating
have increased gradually. Today, 150 GWh of district heating is supplied to the citys inhabitants and businesses. A
consumption of approximately 10,000 tonnes of oil per year has been replaced by district heating.
In 2006, the licence area was extended to include the whole of central Bergen and large parts of Laksevg. The district
heating network will be extended to existing buildings in the course of the next ve years.
One challenge faced by the district heating network in Bergen is how to utilise waste heat in the summer months. One
idea that is being considered is the use of this energy for drying clean wood for pellet production.
Another question to be addressed is passive house design versus district heating in new buildings within the licence area
few developers are willing to invest in both.

Existing and planned district heating network in the city centre

District heating production from 2003 with forecasts up to 2025

23

New buildings
There is great potential for creating good energy solutions in new buildings. The challenge lies in persuading developers
to make the best choices. The 28 passive house standard apartments constructed in Lvshaugen illustrate current
possibilities for building passive houses and using alternative energy solutions in Bergen. They also show that it is
possible to use low-energy solutions without major extra cost. This project has acted as a catalyst for more passive house
projects; ve different projects are currently being planned in the Bergen region with the support of the State Housing
Bank. One of these projects involves the rehabilitation of an old house, while the others concern new buildings.
The municipally owned land development company Bergen Tomteselskap (BTS) is working on strategies for demanding
forward-looking energy solutions in its development areas. It has evaluated the possibility of constructing local district
heating / neighbourhood heating networks in its development areas and identied some areas that are suitable for waterborne heating systems. Other energy solutions are required in other areas. BTS has tried stipulating the passive house
standard as a specication in its sales prospectuses, and one area will be developed with passive housing in the next few
years.
The challenge for the Bergen authorities lies in creating conditions that will allow developers to make good energy
decisions at an early stage in the building process. These are issues that will be worked on in connection with the climate
and energy action plan for Bergen.
Energy consumption in older buildings
There is both potential for and a challenge to be faced in reducing energy consumption in older buildings and using
a greater proportion of renewable energy. Since 2003, the City of Bergen has been participating in ENOVAs energy
management programme. From 2003 to 2007, 194 municipal buildings reduced their annual energy consumption by 10
GWh. The target is 13 GWh by 2009. All oil boilers have been phased out and 11 GWh have been converted to district
heating and biomass heating. We want to continue this work and develop it in the municipal building mass. It would also
be an advantage for similar measures to be implemented by other property management enterprises, big or small.
Energy management in the City of Bergen will be continued through the introduction of an Environmental Management
system in all municipal units. This will be discussed in more detail under the priority area of consumption pattern and
waste.
Approximately half of the citys wood-burning stoves have now been replaced by clean-burning stoves, a system that has
been assisted since 2006 by a payment scheme for scrap wood-burners. This scheme was continued in 2008 and is being
considered for 2009. Extending the scheme to apply to oil-red systems will be considered in connection with the project
currently being implemented by Friends of the Earth Norway. This project is described below. A good deal of the large oil
boilers inside the district heating licence area have already been converted to district heating. This work will continue with
the extension of the district heating network.
The challenge of reducing energy consumption is greatest in existing buildings. The City of Bergen has therefore included
some projects on this in its Cities of the Future application.

24

PRIORITISED PROJECTS FOR THE PROJECT PERIOD 2009-2014

The following projects will be worked on in the autumn of 2008 to produce concrete action plans for the period 20092014. Most of the projects that are presented have already been planned or initiated. The work schedule of the projects
will mainly coincide with the project period for Cities of the Future.
Project 2.1 Guidelines for energy efcient buildings in new development areas
Guidelines will be drawn up in connection with the Climate and Energy action plan for Bergen on how to ensure
optimum energy efciency in both new and rehabilitated buildings in new development areas in Bergen. The possibility
of using zoning plans, building permission processing and development agreements to stipulate requirements for
good forward-looking energy solutions in building projects will be evaluated and tested in new development areas and
projects. The specic project plan and areas chosen will be outlined during the autumn of 2008.
Project 2.2 Construction of passive housing in Sdalen
Bergen Tomteselskap (BTS) is drawing up strategies for requiring forward-looking energy solutions in its development
areas in the years to come. They have already tried stipulating passive-house and low-energy specications in their
sales prospectus for a development in vre Sdal. According to the specications in the sales prospectus, fteen
dwellings will be required to conform to the passive house standard and 32 to the low energy standard
The design and engineering phase of this project will start during 2008.
Project 2.3 Construction of new indoor swimming hall and upper secondary school with forward-looking
energy solutions
The City of Bergen and Hordaland County Council are engaged in a collaborative project to build a new central upper
secondary school and a new indoor swimming hall at Nygrdstangen towards Store Lungegrdsvann. An international
architectural competition was held for this project, and the Norwegian Association of Architects ECOBOX scheme
helped in the preparation of the programme and evaluation of the drafts. The winner of the competition is KHR
arkitektur in Copenhagen in collaboration with EKJ Rdgivende Ingenirer as. Rambll Norge is project coordinator.
The building is scheduled for completion in the autumn of 2011.
An advantageous location for public and pupils alike, at a main public transport hub and next to a multi-storey car
park and light rail stop, and the inclusion of two functions in one building provides the project with an excellent basis
for good climate and energy accounts. Extra resources are now being put into the design and engineering with the
intention of making the school a showcase building for correct energy-use and environmental development. The
schools educational plan will help to develop knowledge about these issues and will form an integral part of the pupils
responsibility and experiences in the everyday life of the school. The nal ambition level for the building will be claried
in September 2008.
Project 2.4 New Sreide school
The planning of a new school at Sreide has just started. A new primary school is to be built and the City Government
wants this school to be a pilot project for new energy solutions and the use of wood as a building material. The school
will also be an important building in the development of the local centre at Sreide. It is a goal for the solutions and
principles used in the building to be included in an educational plan to develop the pupils knowledge in this area.

25

Project 2.5 Passive house standard in council houses for disadvantaged persons
There are plans to build assisted living facilities for the handicapped in Rdalslien by the Lagunen shopping centre. The
ambition level is the passive house standard. The pre-project is expected to be ready in September 2008. Building is
scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of 2008 with completion in the fourth quarter of 2009. Funds for this investment
have been earmarked in the budget.
Project 2.6 Replacing of oil boilers outside the district-heating licence area
A number of oil boilers in Bergen have been replaced through various projects - a large number of them by district heating.
Oil-ring still accounts for approximately 13 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in Bergen and should be phased out.
The Hordaland branch of Friends of the Earth Norway has received grants from, among others, the City of Bergen and the
power company BKK for a project aiming at replacing oil boilers in the area outside the district heating licence area. The
project is in its start-up phase and will be developed during 2008. It will start by mapping oil boilers and oil burners outside
the licence area, and a pilot project will be used to visualise bioenergy and heat pumps as replacements for oil-red
heating. The pilot project will visualise costs, barriers and the practical installation of a biosystem, and will be included
in the strategic information work targeting owners of buildings with oil-red heating. If the project shows a potential for
reducing greenhouse gas emissions it will in all probability be extended beyond the rst year.
Project 2.7 Ny Krohnborg School a new local centre with energy and environmental ambitions
Ny Krohnborg school is an old school building worthy of preservation which is to be rehabilitated in connection with the
New energy round Damsgrdssundet project. The school will be developed with a new sports hall under the school
yard and community centre areas. The object is to achieve much better energy use than the current 260 kWh per square
metre. It is a precondition that energy-saving and environmental measures used in the development will be included in the
educational plan for the pupils to promote new knowledge and responsibility in everyday life at school. Relevant measures
will be specied during the autumn of 2008. Building will start in September 2009 and the school will be taken into use in
April 2011.
Project 2.8 Rehabilitation of council housing
In connection with the New energy around Damsgrdssundet project an older residential block at Nordre Skogvei 73 will
be rehabilitated. The ambition level is to achieve energy utilisation on a par with the low energy standard. The pre-project
and planning are expected to have been completed by September 2008. Building is scheduled to start in the rst quarter
of 2009 and be completed at the end of 2009. Funds have been earmarked in the budget for 2009.
Project 2.9 Extension of district heating in Bergen
The waste incineration plant at Rdalen will be expanded and new district heating pipes will be laid in the centre and out
to Laksevg (inside the licence area). The expansion of the waste incineration plant will mean an increase in capacity
from 120,000 to 240,000 tonnes of residual waste per year. In 2006, 150 GWh of district heating were sold. At present the
maximum amount of energy generated by waste incineration is approximately 110 GWh, which will increase to 220 GWh
after the expansion. The district heating network will be extended during the next ve-year period in Bergen city centre
and in Laksevg. The forecast for energy sales in 2015 is 230 GWh + 60 GWh el. Most of the existing oil boilers in the
extension area will be replaced by district heating, which means a considerable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in
Bergen.

26

Project 2.10 Local district heating networks

The Bergen areas inter-municipal waste handling company BIR Bedrift and the power company BKK Varme are
collaborating to examine the possibility of building two biofuel plants with connected district heating networks, the rst
one in sane and the second in Loddefjord. The fuel used will be waste wood which is currently either deposited in
landlls or sent to Sweden. Each of the plants will deliver up to 28 GWh per year from 10,000 tonnes of chippings.
The licence application process is already in progress for sane, and Loddefjord will follow next year. The two district
heating networks will be completed over a ten to twelve-year period. Total investments in sane will amount to
approximately NOK 115 million and will be dependent on support from ENOVA to achieve protability in a long-term
perspective.
Another possibility is to build a local network based on biofuel in Bergen Tomteselskaps development areas at
Breistein, Hauksen and Hetlevikssen. It may also be possible to connect these to the two other local networks. Prestudies have already been implemented in these areas and they have been deemed suitable for a large waterborne
system.
Project 2.11 New renewable energy production
Most of Bergens water sources are mountain lakes. This means that the water is transported down to the water
treatment plants. Espeland water treatment plant (WTP) is a former power station and the transportation pipeline from
the source to the WTP is adapted to power production. The Agency for Water and Sewerage Works is working on
concrete plans for installing power turbines to exploit the free-fall energy. Tarleb was formerly a separate waterworks,
but was taken out of production with the opening of the new Svartediket WTP. The transportation pipelines from this
water source to Svartediket WTP are intact and more power production equipment can easily be installed here too.

MAIN PLAYERS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PRIORITISED PROJECTS:

Department of Climate, Environment and Urban Development
Agency for Planning and Environment
Agency for Water and Sewerage Works
Production of energy
BKK, BIR, Agency for Water and Sewerage Works
Preparation, construction and rehabilitation
Bergen Municipal Buildings Agency
Bergen Housing and Urban Renewal
Bergen Tomteselskap
Knowledge-building
State Housing Bank, University College of Bergen, Bergen School of Architecture
27

CONSUMPTION PATTERN AND WASTE

PRIORITISED PROJECTS IN THE PROJECT PERIOD 2009-2014

3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.9
3.10
3.11
3.12
3.13

28

New waste plan more waste sorting

Returning points quality in urban spaces. Design competition
Internal waste sorting and recycling in municipal offices
Recycling and good management of used EE products
Utilisation of resources new trends new jobs
Waste sorting in schools and kindergartens
Introduction of environmental management in municipal activities
Waste network
Production of biogas from sludge and food waste from catering
Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from closed-down municipal landfills
Inversion of scheme for requesting not to receive advertising material
Tax system that rewards good habits
Reduction of plastic packaging in handling of groceries

REASONS FOR PRIORITISATIONS IN THE PROJECT PERIOD

Increasing consumption in the western world has been a major contributor to the climate change we are witnessing
today. It is important to keep this in focus when considering measures for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
If we want to reduce consumption, the individual consumer needs to act. However, society in general must facilitate
the making of the right choices. Eco-labelled and ecological products should be made easily obtainable at a
reasonable price. It should be possible not to have to take home the great quantities of useless packaging that exist
today. It should be made easier to recycle and repair products. Local recycling centres must also be opened.
In Bergen we have Fretex (Salvation Army charity shops) and other organisations managing recycling. There is also
an open hall at the recycling station in Blomsterdalen where people can deposit furniture and utility articles for others
to take over free of charge. Bergen also has several smaller enterprises engaging in the redesigning, renewal and
repairing of old furniture etc. Recycling and redesigning is a separate priority area in connection with the New energy
round Damsgrdssundet project.
Our increased consumption means that we produce more waste. Bergen has for a long time had problems with
the siting of return points, especially in the centre. Finding suitable return points for hazardous waste has proved
particularly complicated, but there are now stations for such waste all over the city. Waste containers in the streets in
Bergen city centre are another challenge. The construction of a waste suction network is planned for the whole of the
centre, and work on this has already been started. The collection of electrical and electronic waste is a yet another
challenge, and solutions with possibilities for recycling and good management are being discussed.

29

PRIORITISED PROJECTS FOR THE PROJECT PERIOD 2009-2014

The following projects will be worked on in the autumn of 2008 to produce concrete action plans for the period 20092014. Most of the projects that are presented have already been planned or initiated. The work schedule of the projects
will mainly coincide with the project period for Cities of the Future.
Project 3.1 New waste plan more waste sorting
A new waste plan for Bergen will be drawn up towards 2009. More waste-sorting at source will be a central element in
this plan and a new tax system that rewards waste sorting will be an important measure. A project is already ongoing on
Ostery, where a waste-sorting tax incentive is being tried out. New projects for improving our consumption pattern and
reducing waste will be dened in the process of drawing up the new waste plan for Bergen
Project 3.2 Return points quality in urban spaces. Design competition
At present, the return points are more or less xed features in Bergen urban spaces. Aesthetically these elements
do not t well into central urban spaces, and planning and design criteria should be drawn up for the place itself. To
follow up the City of Bergens focus on quality in its urban spaces an architectural competition will be held for industrial
designers and landscape architects. They will be asked to develop concrete designs for recycling containers and
alternative designs for the place itself the new watering hole or community meeting place suitable for different
locations in and outside of the centre.
Project 3.3 Internal waste sorting and recycling in municipal ofces
Certain types of waste pose greater problems than others. In municipal ofces there is often a lot of discarded computer
equipment and other electronic equipment. The City must handle this in a good and efcient manner, ensuring that
anything that can be re-used by others is directed through the right channels. Discarded equipment must be dealt with
adequately. Discarded furniture often has great user value. A municipal workshop has been set up for repairing furniture.
A project to make a good system for handling special types of waste will be discussed in connection with the
introduction of environmental management in the municipal system.
Relevant product groups are electrical and electronic waste and furniture, which have great re-cycling potential. The
project will be developed during the autumn of 2008.
Project 3.4 Recycling and good management of used EE products
EE waste has often been left for long periods without being dealt with. Useable and less useable products are
sent abroad. During the autumn of 2008 a project will be developed to increase the recycling of EE products while
establishing good solutions for handling this waste in Bergen.

30

Project 3.5 Utilisation of resources new trends new jobs

The New energy round Damsgrdssundet project has a wide-ranging sustainability programme as the foundation
for renovation and transformation. The establishment of new and sustainable cultural businesses on the western side
of the sound is a goal in discussions about the creation of new jobs. As we are developing an initially unattractive
attractive central area, we must endeavour to facilitate the creation of an environment in which new goals and in
fact new trends provide a basis for a city district with its own identity in the urban community.
In the course of 2008, a report will be submitted describing proposed projects that will highlight waste and recycling
as attractive products. The report will be prepared as a process involving local players, the Section for Arts and
Culture, the Bergen National Academy of the Arts, Fretex (Salvation Armys charity shops) and the Norwegian Labour
and Welfare Organisation.
If waste suction is introduced in parts of the area, the local terminals will have urban qualities, with service functions
for the public, production of compost for collection, a second-hand shop etc.
Project 3.6 Waste sorting in schools and kindergartens
This is a collaborative project between the City of Bergen and BIR (the Bergen areas inter-municipal waste handling
company) with partners. Staff and pupils at Flaktveit School have been sorting waste since the spring of 2007, and
food, plastic, paper and cardboard and residual waste have been sorted with a good result. In connection with this
project the Green Flag will also be introduced for all primary and lower secondary school classes in Bergen. This
project is estimated to cost NOK 1.3 million, of which 0.5 million will be taken from the Citys climate fund for the
introduction of environmental management. Start-up in 2008.
Project 3.7 Introduction of environmental leadership in the City of Bergen
On 19 November 2007 the City Council decided that all municipal units would introduce environmental leadership
into their activities. In this connection relevant environmental parameters will be implemented in the Citys existing
reporting system, the Balanced Scorecard. The managers of the individual municipal units will be responsible for
follow-up of this. The details of the practical implementation of and schedule for the work will be decided during
the spring of 2008. A project coordinator will be appointed to manage the project. This project will have an effect
on concrete environmental objectives such as reduction in use of paper, energy, better waste management, more
efcient transport and, not least, thoughtful procurement processes.
Project 3.8 Waste network
In order to tackle the problem of ugly waste containers in the streets of central Bergen, and to reduce the amount of
heavy trafc in cramped urban areas, BIR has drawn up a plan for the development of a waste suction network in the
city centre areas in collaboration with the City Governments Department of Climate, Environmental affairs and Urban
Development. The waste network has already been installed in several major housing complexes in Bergen. The
plan is to develop the network in three central areas with a local collection terminal in each area. A subsidiary of BIR
Bossnett AS will build the network.
Construction of a pipeline system has commenced, but the nal decision will be made by the municipal authorities
in April 2008. The work schedule and detailed plans will not be drawn up until then. The plan for the network will be
ready in the autumn of 2008.

31

Project 3.9 Production of biogas from sludge

and food waste from catering
Bergen has several big sewage treatment plants.
These plants will be upgraded in the coming years
for secondary treatment. In this connection the
municipal Agency for Water and Sewerage Works
and BIR are together examining the possibility of
building a decomposition facility for sludge and food
waste from catering. The plant will produce biogas
containing methane. What the gas will be used for
has not yet been decided, but whatever the case
it will replace fossil oil or gas. It is being discussed
whether to use it for blending with natural gas or to
purify it for use as gas for vehicles. The estimated
quantities of gas from the plant will correspond to
the annual consumption of Bergens 85 natural gas
buses. The project will also create a potential for the
collection of wet organic waste from households for
the same process.
The sketch project has already been implemented
with positive results and its continuation and
development will be decided during 2008.
Alternative locations for biogas plants in the different areas

Project 3.10 Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from closed-down municipal landlls
For a number of years methane gas has been collected from the landll in Rdalen. The gas has been used to produce
electricity for the incineration plant. Recently the production of gas has been so low that it has not been possible to
produce electricity. For this reason there is a need for new measures to reduce emissions from the landll. In the course
of 2008 an environmental risk evaluation will be carried out of the current post-operation at the Rdalen landll site with
a view to sustainable securing of the site. Measures will be implemented on the basis of this evaluation with a view,
among other things, to reducing/eliminating greenhouse gas emissions.
Project 3.11 Inversion of scheme for requesting not to receive advertising material
On 13 February 2008 Bergen City Government passed the following resolution:
The City Government of Bergen requests the Ministry, in its proposal for a new Marketing Act which it is expected to
present to parliament in the spring, to propose an amendment that will invert the present scheme whereby people can
request not to receive unaddressed advertising material.
At present, large quantities of unsolicited advertising material are produced and distributed. The advertisements often
go straight into the residual household waste or, at best, they are recycled. The City Government of Bergen would like
to see an inversion of the present scheme, so that instead of requesting not to receive such advertising, people would
have to make an active request to receive it, i.e. they would have to signal yes please on their mail boxes in order
to receive the mail and would no longer need to signal no thank you to stop it coming. It is well documented that a
scheme like this is a substantial plus in the climate issue.
32

Corresponding measures have been considered in Aurskog-Hland municipality. It has been claimed that the
municipal decision in Aurskog-Hland to invert the current scheme contravenes section 2 of the current Marketing
act. This is why Bergen City Government is proposing an amendment to the Act, and asking that a proposal for an
inversion of the current scheme be proposed in connection with the Cities of the Future project.
Project 3.12 Tax system that rewards good habits
The City Government would also point out that under the current system free bus passes for travelling to work are
taxed, while the benet of an individual parking place at work is not taxed. The Ministry must make sure that the tax
system too is adapted to the goals for sustainable urban development.
The City of Bergen will propose that a project be developed during 2008 to evaluate how the tax system can reward
sustainable urban development and not counteract it.
Project 3.13 Reduction of plastic packaging in the handling of groceries
A large part of todays household waste consists of plastic packaging. This waste takes up a lot of space and is often
unnecessary.
The City of Bergen proposes preparing a project during the autumn of 2008 to evaluate the possibility of reducing
the use of packaging in the grocery business in general. Bergen proposes to make this a joint project for all cities
participating in Cities of the Future, as this is a national problem that cannot be solved by the individual city alone.

MAIN PLAYERS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PRIORITISED PROJECTS

Adaptation, construction and rehabilitation
Municipal Buildings Agency (BKB)
Bergen Housing and Urban Renewal (BBB)
Bergen Tomteselskap (BTS)
BIR (the Bergen areas inter-municipal waste handling company)
Knowledge-building
State Housing Bank
University College of Bergen
33

4 ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGES

PRIORITISED PROJECTS IN THE PROJECT PERIOD
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
4.10
4.11

34

Critical infrastructure
Water supply and effects of climate change
Wastewater management and effects of climate changes
Hauks watercourse a new city district with open solutions for surface water
Nesttun watercourse
Water between the Lungegrd lakes
Research project on rising sea level collaboration with Bjerknes Centre
NORADAPT
Dimensioning of the surface water system
- use of global climate models and data for local climate changes
MARE international project on, among other things, the risk of flooding
Climate changes and human rights
The Bergen Charter of Climate Change and Human Rights

REASONS FOR PRIORITISATIONS IN THE PROJECT PERIOD

The City of Bergen would like to see a broad initiative to start work on a new human rights convention which
will secure the right to a sustainable future and sustainable decisions within the framework of the climate goals
recommended by the United Nations.
The convention can be designed as an additional chapter to the European Convention on Human Rights with the
Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg as its highest body or, possibly, as a separate convention with its own court.
The convention must build on the individuals right to a sustainable future. It should be supplemented by the reports
written by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe concerning the need for internationally binding
conventions on climate and environmental issues, with corresponding opportunities to impose penalties or sanctions
in the event of non-compliance or of decision-making that outs the convention and international agreements. Socalled soft laws fail to commit nations and do not secure the future of individuals.
Bergen is a city in close proximity to the sea and the mountains, with large quantities of precipitation. In recent
years incidences of extreme weather have resulted in loss of human life and material assets. An RAV analysis has
therefore been carried out in connection with the land-use part of the municipal master plan. Different types of risk
maps have been drawn up, mapping, for example, local precipitation, oods, water levels and land-slide risk areas
in the whole of the City. These maps will be used in planning processes and developments to reduce the risk of
unforeseen incidents.
Several future climate changes are expected which will lead to rises in sea level and more extreme precipitation.
This will in turn result in more oods and landslides. In order to meet these challenges we need greater expertise in
the eld of the effects of global warming in our own area. For this reason, a lot of the proposed projects will relate
to building knowledge about local climate models, registration of climate vulnerability and drawing up forecasts and
scenarios to help identify what adaptation will be necessary in the Bergen area. This work is linked to national and
international research communities.
The vulnerability committee has dened water supply and sewerage as a critical part of the infrastructure. Our
modern society is dependent on a well-functioning, highly reliable and regular water supply and sewerage system.
The City of Bergen attaches great importance to having a hygienic water supply with good usability qualities and
secure and reliable wastewater management. Priority will also be given to the use of water as a structure in the
urban environment by opening closed water conduits and installing systems for separating the surface water from
wastewater.
In the municipal planning work, an overarching risk and vulnerability analysis has been carried out for land use
following the principles dened by the Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning. The main principles
of the analysis have been incorporated into the municipal master plan. Special risk and vulnerability maps have been
drawn up for landslides, oods, wind and waves. These thematic maps are linked to the municipal master plan, and
the provisions and guidelines in the land-use part of the plan are based on the thematic maps.

35

PRIORITISED PROJECTS IN THE PROJECT PERIOD 2009-2014

The following projects will be worked on in the autumn of 2008 to produce concrete action plans for the period 20092014. Most of the projects that are presented have already been planned or initiated. The work schedule of the projects
will mainly coincide with the project period for Cities of the Future.
Project 4.1 Critical infrastructure
The vulnerability committee has dened water supply and sewerage as critical infrastructure. Our modern society is
dependent on a well-functioning, highly reliable and regular water supply and sewerage system. The City of Bergen
attaches great importance to having a hygienic water supply with good usability qualities, and secure and reliable
wastewater management. For this reason the City of Bergen gives priority to the rehabilitation and renewal its
network of water mains and sewers. In our efforts to improve reliability and safety we are participating in Norwegian
Waters (national association of water and wastewater works) benchmarking of service quality, and have also initiated
benchmarking with a focus on cost-efciency. The following can be mentioned:
-

Rehabilitation and renewal of the water mains and sewerage network and installations is permanently ongoing.
The prioritisation of measures is based on operational experience and reports.
Norwegian Water benchmarks 26 municipalities per year. The benchmarking is based largely on the same
data as that reported to KOSTRA (Statistics Norways local government and state reporting system), with some
supplements.
EFFOmeter VA is a benchmarking tool that focuses more on economy and cost, and it is used to supplement
Norwegian Waters benchmarking. We are in phase 2 of adjusting the model and the plan is to make it an
annual integral part of Norwegian Waters benchmarking.

Project 4.2 Water supply and effects of climate change

Climate changes will mean rising temperatures and increasing and more intense precipitation. This will in turn lead
to more bioproduction in the catchment areas with a resultant increase in content of organic substances. Rising
temperatures and more wind will have an adverse effect on the stability of water sources, which means we will have to
improve the reliability of water treatment by optimising the processes and developing better indicators for monitoring
water sources and treatment. This work has been integrated into the EU Techneau project in which SINTEF (Foundation
for Scientic and Industrial Research at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology) has involved the City of
Bergen both as a case and an end user. This is a multidisciplinary programme under the auspices of the EU. SINTEF is
project manager for the part in which Bergen is involved. The programmes time horizon is 2010.
Project 4.3 Wastewater management and effects of climate change
Like many other municipalities, Bergen has a combined system for the transport of wastewater and surface water.
Increased precipitation (in quantity and intensity) will challenge the capacity both of the network of sewers and the
treatment plants. At present we have strict requirements for managing overows in the sewerage network. In this
connection the separation of the sanitary sewage and surface water is a priority. The City of Bergen is modelling the
whole of its sewerage network to identify both critical points and areas where it is possible to establish new solutions or
to re-open former streams. A great number of concrete projects are in progress to treat surface water as a resource. See
the Hauksvassdraget project and the project to open the channel between the two Lungegrd lakes.

The municipal Agency for Water and Sewerage Works is modelling the sewer zones successively to identify
problem areas/ bottlenecks and possibilities of opening up channels and/or leading the surface water and
wastewater through separate systems. The Fjellsiden zone has been modelled and work in other zones is
ongoing.
36

Project 4.4 Hauksvassdraget a new city district with open solutions for surface water
In the next few years, housing will be built for 10,000 people in the Hauksvassdraget catchment area.
Hauksvassdraget is a vulnerable watercourse with (among other things) protected river mussels. The City of
Bergen has evaluated ways of developing this area to include local use of surface water based on principles such
as retention and inltration, retaining and using the natural watercourses. The aim is to maintain optimal natural
management of surface water in the catchment area, paying attention also to safety and the environment.
COWIs report on Hauksvassdraget recommends introducing provisions for surface water management in the
municipal master plan and subsequently in zoning and building plans. This has been done. The City of Bergen will
not establish pipe-based surface water systems in the area. Private developers must take this into consideration.
This is in line with the City of Bergens standards for water and wastewater and for surface water.
Project 4.5 Nesttunvassdraget
Nesttunvasdraget has unique qualities and is the second largest watercourse in Bergen. Approximately 25 per cent
of the catchment area is built up, while 73 per cent consists of woodland and uncultivated and cultivated countryside.
There has been a great deal of development in the area, and the land-use part of the municipal master plan shows
that the groundwork is in place for further development. The goals of this project include increasing knowledge about
the watercourse, ensuring that its ecological status is good, planning for its use and conservation, and stimulating to
professional and nancial involvement from the local community, the authorities and business.
The City of Bergen wishes to secure the watercourses surroundings against damaging oods and to develop its
urban qualities as a blue/green structure traversing this part of the city. The City of Bergen will exploit possibilities in
the ood control measures to develop the watercourses natural qualities and improve accessibility.
The period 2008-2010 will be used mainly for registration, evaluation and planning work. This work is intended to
form the foundations for concrete projects in the period 2010-2012. By the beginning of 2012 central parts of the
Nesttun watercourse and its immediate surroundings will have a new look, and by 2015 it should be well on the way
to achieving the goal of good ecological status.
Project 4.6 Water between the Lungegrd lakes
A new zoning plan for Nygrdstangen with several possible development projects in the area provides for a major
urban space axis that will be a central feature in the important urban development area between the city centre and
Store Lungegrdsvann lake. New surface water management measures will involve the integration of water in the
development of the new pedestrian area (separate project sheet).

37

Project 4.7 Research project on rising sea level collaborative project with the Nansen Bjerknes Centre
Bergen has large areas that are exposed to ooding when the sea rises. The City of Bergen wishes to start a pre-project
in 2008 to nd out how to deal with these areas.
The City Government has decided to embark on a three-year collaborative research project with the Nansen-Bjerknes
Centre for Climate and Ocean Research, focusing on changes in sea level and targeting adaptation and planning needs
in Bergen in particular. The City of Bergen will provide approximately NOK 1 million over a three-year period to support
the project.
In the research project, variations in sea level during the last 150 years will be charted, the current sea level status
reviewed and an estimate of rising sea levels for the 21st and 22nd centuries will be presented. Simplied models for
global rises in sea level with contribution from land glaciers will be used. Information about future rises in sea level,
including uncertainties, will be extremely useful when adapting and planning new infrastructure along the whole of the
Bergen shoreline.
Project 4.8 NORADAPT
The City of Bergen is participating in a nationwide research project on climate vulnerability and climate adaptation.
The project is a collaboration involving CICERO (Center for International Climate and Environmental Research),
Vestlandsforskning (Western Norway research institute), stlandsforskning (Eastern Norway research institute) and the
Norwegian Meteorological Institute. The project, which is funded by the Research Council of Norway, was commenced in
2007 and will last until the end of 2010.
The main tool to be used is an indicator model that will be developed to contain relevant factors relating to vulnerability
and adaptation. The City of Bergen will, among other things, link NORADAPT to its work on the climate and energy
action plan in order to elucidate the connection between emission-oriented and adaptation-oriented climate policy.
In the course of 2008 the project will analyse how climate changes may impact Bergen. The remaining part of the project
up until 2010 will focus on how the City can best adapt to these changes. In the course of 2008 Bergen will decide which
adaptation areas to invest in. The old Hanseatic wharf, Bryggen, and the historical areas around inner harbour, Vgen,
and the large development areas along the waterfront in the centre will be given high priority.
Project 4.9 Dimensioning of the surface water system
Use of global climate models and data for local climate change
The Bjerknes Centre works with global climate models. Bergen has great local variations in precipitation, and dening
the future basis for dimensioning the surface water system and measures in the watercourses is a challenge. The
Bjerknes Centre and the City of Bergen are collaborating to downscale the global climate models to provide a better
basis for evaluating the local and regional effects. This work will be linked to the Interreg project MARE in which Bergen
is participating.

38

Project 4.10 MARE International project on ooding

MARE, which stands for Managing Adaptive Responses to changing ood risk in the North Sea region, is an
international project with support from Interreg IVB. The partners are from Dordrecht (the Netherlands) and
Shefeld, Lidkping, Hannover and Flanders. The projects starting point is climate change, urbanisation and other
circumstances that lead to increased danger of ooding.
The aim of the project is to identify new sustainable approaches for managing ood risk and remedial measures in
this connection. A supranational approach will be developed for watercourse management, taking local ood risk
precautions, as required in the Flood Directive. The project will also consider how the risk of ooding and response
measures should be communicated to those who are exposed and how local residents and businesses can be
involved.
The collaboration between the City of Bergen and the Nansen-Bjerknes Centre will be a central factor in the
implementation of this project.

Estimated ooded area if the water rises 2.38 above the normal zero.

39

Project 4.11 Climate change and human rights

The Bergen Charter of Climate Change and Human Rights
The City of Bergen has been in dialogue with research communities in the elds of climate, the environment,
adaptations to climate, development studies, human rights etc. There is both a will and an interest in Bergen in working
on a wide-ranging and comprehensive basis across research, discipline and administrative boundaries for a Bergen
Charter of Climate Change and Human Rights. Contact has been established with the Christian Michelsen Institute, the
Bjerknes and Nansen Centres, the University of Bergen, the Rafto House Foundation and others.
On the basis of the think globally, act locally, principle, we wish to highlight a new international management model
and a new human rights convention by means of concrete case studies and dissemination, with global action goals. A
concrete urban development case, e.g. the development of the Damsgrdssundet model, with a clear focus on human
rights is the starting point for the project, which will be further concretised during 2008.

MAIN PLAYERS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PRIORITISED PROJECTS:

Internal
Department of Climate, Environment and Urban Development
Agency for Planning and Environment
Agency for Water and Sewerage Works
External
The Bjerknes Centre
CICERO
Vestlandsforskning
40

OTHER EXPERT MILIEUS IN BERGEN TODAYBACKGROUND AND COLLABORATION

Bergen has a broad commitment to climate and the environment and an inuential expert milieu in the eld, linked
to public institutions, university and research groupings, trade and industry in general and voluntary organisations.
In this active phase of climate commitment in Bergen, one of the measures employed will be the establishment of a
network for all groupings in this expert milieu in a Specialist Forum for Urban Development and a review of possible
ways of coordinating expertise, information, debate and specic collaborative projects.
The following examples present some aspects of this broad expert milieu:
International expertise and current initiatives

The City of Bergen, the Nansen-Bjerknes Centre, the University, Bergen Chamber of Commerce and
Industry and Bergen Scenarios 2020 will establish a Climate Forum with the aim of holding 2-3 meetings
per semester targeting trade and industry, politicians and the specialist community in general.

The expert milieus are working with the City of Bergen authorities to develop a climate centre linked to
Bergen High Technology Centres development area on Marineholmen in the Damsgrdssundet sound.

Energy Forum is a specialist debate forum in Bergen, set up as an initiative and collaborative project
involving the University of Bergen, the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration,
Bergen Energi, Hordaland County Council, Bergen Kommunale Kraftselskap (BKK), Hordaland olje og
gass, StatoilHydro and Friends of the Earth Norway. In 2008 the Energy Forum will host the international
ECT conference.

Bergen Scenarios 2020 a meeting place and forum for debate under the auspices of the Bergen
Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Energy and climate have constituted the main theme for its work
since the autumn of 2006. This project will be concluded at the turn of the year 2008/2009.

Sparebanken Vest, as part of its Visjon Vest scheme, is responsible for the Vestlandskonferansen (West
Norway conference) to be held in October 2008 with climate as the main theme. In connection with
this the bank has funded the registration of all players in the region in the eld of climate adaptation
and renewable energy. The work will be carried out by the Norwegian School of Management and IRIS
research.

Expertise development in the building and construction industry

The State Housing Bank, Bergen School of Architecture and Bergen University College are working
together to identify ways to bolster education and further education in the eld of correct energy-use in
building and construction.
Bergen Tomteselskap, representatives from the construction industry and Bergen University College are
discussing the possibility of developing a one-to-one project for training and quality assurance of the
various craftsmen who will be implementing new technological solutions in the building and construction
industry.

41

Knowledge development relating to children and teenagers

On the initiative of the City of Bergen, the Bjerknes Centre will set up and help to operate a Climate Patrol for
children and teenagers. Children and teenagers will be given knowledge and tasks targeting their peers at
school and at play and also the Bergen community in general.

The University of Bergen is responsible for coordinating and running the large interactive website sustain.no.
Through this project, pupils of primary and upper secondary schools in the whole of Norway will be informed
about environmental issues spanning the whole breadth of sustainable development. The pupils will be able
to publish their own projects on the website and discuss their experiences and results with others. ENOVA is
collaborating in the project on energy matters.

The new Bergen Science Centre VILVITE at the High Technology Centre uses exciting and instructive ways
to provide families and children with information about relevant climate and environmental topics. The centre
opened on 31 May 2007 and is steadily increasing its range of activities.
One of the centres current activities is running a course in energy teaching for primary and upper secondary
school teachers.

VILVITE runs research courses for young people and has also set up an innovation ofce which runs
entrepreneurship courses with scientic and industrial themes for young people.

The City of Bergen has created an adoption programme for watercourses in collaboration with the Centre
of Schools Science Education at the University of Bergen, in which pupils hand in information about
watercourses to the database sustain.no.

Organisation of the work locally coordination with the network programme.

As part of the collaboration with the national network Cities of the Future, the City of Bergen will organise a sixyear action programme, from 2009 to 2014. This programme will turn the spotlight on this important issue and
implement coordinated efforts in the urban community. In the following, we will show how the City of Bergen has
organised its own activities in this work and how it proposes to coordinate and collaborate with other players in the
region and the city.
The City Government Department of Climate, Environmental Affairs and Urban Development has decided to hold
regular meetings of specialists throughout the year through a Specialist Forum for Urban Development (Fagforum
Byutvikling). Within this framework participants will be invited to take part in a Climate and Energy forum three
times a year to exchange information and discuss collaboration between private and public sector players.
Furthermore, various major projects will be coordinated under different themes and networks in the usual way.
A report of the results of the action programme will be submitted to the City Government and the City Council
annually.

42

ORGANISATION OF THE WORK LOCALLY

- COORDINATION WITH THE NETWORK PROGRAMME
The following chart shows how we envisage the organisation and coordination between players involved in the
eld for the next six years.

CITY GOVERNMENT

City Council
Committee for Climate,
Environmental Affairs and
Urban Development

CITY COUNCIL
Department of Climate
Environmental Affairs and
Urban Development

INTERNAL
PROJECT
GROUP
City of Bergen

Priority
area 1

Priority
area 2

County and regional public

authority bodies

Priority
area 3

CLIMATE AND
ENERGY FORUM

Priority
area 4

National
Climate
Centre

Priority area 1: Land-use and transport

Priority area 2: Stationary energy
Priority area 3: Consumption pattern and waste
Priority area 4: Adaptation to climate change
INTERNAL PROJECT GROUP City of Bergen
The internal project group includes all City Government departments and relevant, municipal companies and
enterprises.
Other public sector bodies, such as Hordaland County Council, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration
and the Regional Council will be invited to join the group as required.
CLIMATE AND ENERGY FORUM
Based on the above-mentioned players and expert milieus in Bergen, a Climate and Energy Forum will be
established as an information and coordination arena under the auspices of the City of Bergen.
The Climate and Energy Forum will be used actively in the implementation of the short-term action
programme.

43

PROJECT SHEETS
The project sheets show some important ongoing projects in Bergen which
will allow the people of Bergen to experience the effects of low greenhouse
gas emissions in a good urban environment in the project period 20092014.

Bergen light rail

- modern, attractive and environmentally friendly public transport

Cycling in Bergen
- a threefold increase in investments in the coming years

Recreation and green structures

- development of local, attractive recreation, activity and
experience opportunities

Pedestrian routes and universal design

- better access for all

Water between the Lungegrd lakes

- an overriding urban space project. Consequences of future
increases in precipitation

New energy around Damsgrdssundet

- a practice area for sustainable development. Transformation and
improvement of living conditions

Sandviken
- value creation with major antiquarian challenges

The Hanseatic wharf (Bryggen) and the historical areas around the
inner harbour (Vgen)
- major challenges to save Bergens prime cultural heritage site

Bergen light rail

- modern, attractive and environmentally friendly public transport

The construction work on the Bergen light rail started on 7 January 2008, when the Minister of Transport and Communications laid the
rst rail. The City of Bergen, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration and the Hordaland County Council are working to nd a way
of funding the construction of the light rail as far as Rdal by 2012. Work is now in progress in several places between the city centre
and Nesttun, and this part of the rail system will be ready for use in 2010. The land-use part of the municipal master plan assumes
densication around the light railway stops, with approximately half of all new housing construction located in these places.
The strategy programme for coordination and implementation of private development around the stops shall contribute to quality and
good local centres around the new public transport hubs.
Starvhusgaten 2010: 1st stop

The light rail carriages that will arrive in Bergen in 2009

Intensive work is in progress along the whole route.
An efcient information system will provide the people of Bergen and others with good information. See www.bybanen.no

Cycling in Bergen

- a threefold increase in investments in the coming years

The City Government plans a threefold increase in investments in better conditions for cyclists in the coming years. The matter
is being processed in ongoing cases concerning the national transport plan and the continuing of the Bergen Programme 20102019. Through the Bergen Programme the City of Bergen, the Public Roads Administration and Hordaland County Council will
in 2008 draw up an updated strategy for increased investment in the construction of cycle paths/ tracks and other facilities for
cyclists. This work will focus on ve aspects:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Cycle parking
Main routes into the city centre
Increased investment in local centres, public transport hubs and concentrations of workplaces
Cycle and light rail the good way to travel
Cycling in and through the city centre

Main principles for the measures:

Cycle parking must ensure that the cycles remain intact and are not stolen

Cyclists and pedestrians must be separated where the groups have a high annual average daily trafc

As few points of crossing, conict and changes of system as possible

As many continuous networks as possible, preferably of the same type.

Bergen needs some symbol brochures for cycling. The following proposals will be evaluated and prioritised during 2008:
The light rail and cycle The good way to travel
Good cycle parking conditions around the stops when the light rail opens.
Cycle parking in the city centre
Good capacity. Secure parking. Showers and cloakroom
facilities
Prioritisation of cycles through the city centre
Easier to be a cyclist in the centre of Bergen
Cycle expressway. Fjsanger city centre
Concrete measures along the Bergen valley
Sandsli/ Kokstad 15,000 jobs
Measures will be evaluation in collaboration with local
enterprises
Cycle paths /tracks in sane
In the work that is ongoing for developing the centre of sane
new solutions for cycle transport will be given high priority.

Pedestrian routes and universal design

- access for all

The City of Bergen has drawn up an accessibility map for the centre of Bergen showing routes with good accessibility for wheelchair users
and specic heights of pavements at all crossroads.
The map should be updated continuously as new street developments improve standards at crossroads. Work is also in progress to include
gradients in this type of map.
The areas around Damsgrdssundet a pilot project
In connection with the action plan for the urban development areas around Damsgrdssundet a work process has been carried out with the
aim of incorporating good universal access qualities when establishing new pedestrian routes from the existing residential areas through the
transformation areas towards the city centre, and in the new waterfront promenade. Conclusions and concrete solutions from this work will
form a basis for negotiations with developers in the development areas and form a basis for the upgrading of public streets, urban spaces
and pedestrian routes in the area. The work will be used to make a local accessibility map, which will also show the gradients in the hilly
landscape.
Project management: Department of Climate, Environmental Affairs and Urban Development

Proposals for standards and concrete solutions will be

included in all sub-plans in the area.
The conclusions will be submitted to the City
Government in the spring of 2008.

Solutions embodying the principles are exemplied for the

main routes that are highlighted in the sketch above
The project will be implemented using a work process in
which the following will be involved:

State Housing Bank

Internal UU group in Climate, Environmental affairs and
urban Development
The Norwegian State Council on Disability
Miscellaneous elite users and experts
Section for property development and development
contracts
Public Roads Administration

Recreation and green structures

-

development of attractive local recreation, activity and experience opportunities

One of the overriding goals for the next few years is the reduction of the need to travel out of ones own city or city district for recreational
experiences. The sketch map below illustrates how the new public access to large parts of the waterfront will be linked to natural areas
by pedestrian routes. In the steep terrain, old footpaths will be upgraded and good qualities ensured along the links with the new urban
development areas along the waterfront. Public use of the harbour areas will be considered in all development plans

.
The management plan for the city mountains has been adopted
and given high priority. The following new measures are being
implemented:

Green: existing main pedestrian connections

Red: need for upgrading pedestrian routes

New Brushytte refreshment cabin on Mount Flyen.

Attraction and stopping place for walkers in the area
ready 2008

Establishment of kindergarten/ activity house for outdoor

pursuits on Mount Flyen in autumn 2008. Teaching.
Base for hiring equipment

Outdoor recreation report to be implemented:

Lvstien new trail along Lvstakksiden, Hauks,
Gjeddevann and Vestparken

Reserving recreation areas and swimming spots

Renovation of the Nesttun watercourse

Renovation of urban spaces, including new waterfront

promenade around Damsgrdssundet.

Renovation of parks and green areas, including Nygrd

park.

Five new swimming spots are planned in the city centre and it will be endeavoured to give them priority in concrete development plans.
The spots are marked in blue-green on the map

The Hanseatic wharf (Bryggen) and the historical areas around the inner
harbour (Vgen)
-

major challenges to save Bergens prime cultural heritage site

Bergens old Hanseatic wharf (Bryggen) has faced and continues to face three main challenges:
1.
2.
3.

Until recently, the ground oors of businesses along the waterfront were ooded during spring tides.
Due to changes in groundwater conditions, the buildings on Bryggen are sinking.
The anticipated rise in sea level will affect the buildings on Bryggen

1.

The municipal engineering enterprise, Bergen Bydrift, has recently carried out extensive work on Bryggen based on new surface water
management and the establishment of pumping systems.
As a result of this, the ground oors of the businesses are no longer ooded by spring tides.

2.

The recently built underground car park on Bryggen has resulted in a fall in the groundwater level, affecting the lling material under
Bryggen. The buildings are sinking.
A new car park is currently planned on Fjellsiden behind Bryggen. A comprehensive geological survey will be made in connection with
this, which may be instrumental in developing a total system for managing groundwater levels in Bergen.

3.

In view of the anticipated rise in sea level, measures targeting Bryggen and Vgen are a priority area in the ongoing NORADAPT
project. This project will be concluded in 2010 and provide the basis for concrete measures.

The market place The Fish Market under development

The Bergen Fish Market is to be revamped. The new Fish Market must preserve Bergens traditional market-place functions in this historical
area while at the same time ensuring that new working environment and food hygiene requirements are respected. Changes to the Fish Market
have been the topic of a prolonged and heated debate in Bergen, and for several years the area has been marked by temporariness. Several
architectural competitions have been held. Several development proposals have been presented and Bergen will now have to make some vital
decisions for an important part of the citys service provision and our national trademark.

Water between the Lungegrd lakes

- an overriding urban space project. Consequences of future increases in precipitation

The wastewater engineer, the town planner and the gardener need to talk more to each other.
The surface water should embellish the city not damage it.
Quotes from the master plan for wastewater and water environment 2005-2015.
As a result of the steadily increasing quantities of precipitation, the master
plan for wastewater and water environment now includes a strategy and
programme for area-by-area separation of wastewater and surface water.
The strategy programme for water between the city centre and the
Lungegrd lakes has been drawn up in collaboration by the Agency for
Planning and Environment and the Agency for Water and Sewerage Works.
In the further development of the city centre towards Store Lungegrdsvann
new surface water management will provide clean water to enrich the new
pedestrian route. Concrete projects will highlight the citys history, provide
new water-related experiences in the urban environment, display water in
artistic expression and, not least, promote a general understanding of the
importance of water and the management of precipitation for Bergen and its
people through the year.
The strategy programme provides frameworks for projects and negotiations
in the urban development area. This area is divided into nine sub-areas which
can be developed independently of each other. The programme includes ve
overarching themes:
principles for distinguishing lakes from sea
surface water management
water quality
experiences and quality
learning and safety
The programme will provide the basis for negotiations and contracts with
developers along the new urban space axis.
Project management: Climate, Environmental Affairs and Urban
Development, Agency for Planning and Environment.

The present culvert will be kept as a reservoir to provide water as needed for the urban spaces along the pedestrian axis. This will allow for
maximum exibility in the development process.

Sandviken

- value creation with major antiquarian challenges

The Sandviken project is Bergens contribution to the national value creation

programme initiated by the Ministry of the Environment. The aim is for cultural
heritage and the cultural environment to provide a basis for brand-building,
commercial and industrial measures and a thriving community by 2010.
The area has great cultural heritage interest, also in an international context,
because of its history as a port, but the remaining cultural heritage environment
is threatened by increasing pressure from trafc and development.
The Director of Cultural Heritage Management has given notice of cultural
environment conservation orders for parts of the plan area.
Bergen in the 1740s

The Pluss programme is coordinated by the Department of Climate,

Environmental affairs and the Cultural Heritage Management Ofce. This
programme is a broad network in which cultural heritage conservation, trade
and industry and public and private bodies all focus on Sandviken.

Sandviken is an area that will be greatly affected by rising water levels. With this in view,
overarching measures will be evaluated in the project period, the main responsibility lying with
the Department of Climate, Environmental affairs and Urban Developments Agency for Planning
and Environment.
The project is three-fold:
Concrete cultural heritage measures
Registration of cultural heritage sites and monuments, plans, advisory services and renovation
of buildings.
Collaborative projects
Local user groups, public bodies and trade and industry will collaborate. Important sub-projects
are public areas, better accessibility to these and producing historical information and signs.
Commercial and industrial development
This work is rooted in Bergen Scenarios 2020, initiated by the Bergen chamber of Commerce
and Industry. A marketing plan will be drawn up based on cultural heritage assets. The
Sandviken Project is applying to collaborate with the North Sea Trail (Nordsjlypa) and the
Norwegian Traditional Fish project (Norsk Tradisjonssk). The project will coordinate, contribute
to and support the network of businesses in the area.

At its peak Sandviken had 183 waterfront warehouses. Today, less than 40 remain many of them with regrettable modications and
extensions.

New energy around Damsgrdssundet

- a practice area for sustainable development. Transformation and improvement of living conditions

This is a project involving six of the Bergen City Government

departments, the State Housing Bank and the largest private
developers in the area.
A run-down area with a high proportion of council housing along
Lvstakksiden will be given a physical boost. Social, cultural and
commercial/industrial measures will help to merge the new urban
areas along the waterfront and existing areas into a new identity area
in the centre of Bergen with forward-looking solutions and a good
urban environment.
Forward-looking energy solutions in new buildings and the
rehabilitation of older buildings have high priority in both private and
municipal development projects.
Priority is also being given to good pedestrian, cycling and public
transport solutions in order to reduce the use of cars.
The projects action plan will be implemented in a number of different thematic areas:
Democracy, involvement and responsibility
Two meetings a year with all business-unit managers and other players in the area
One annual information meeting/event targeting the whole population
Exhibitions and thematic seminars
Infrastructure
Prioritised pedestrian and cycle network
New pedestrian/cycle bridge over the sound
Markusplasssen new local urban space
Light rail stop and free bus
Trafc reduction and two housing zone car parks
Housing programme, housing and area management
BOB (housing association for the Bergen area) is the main developer for a residential area with
approximately 1,500 housing units. New energy solutions.
Large proportion of municipal and private rental housing. Measures are being evaluated.
Ny Krohnborg urban district centre the beating heart of the local community
Ny Krohnborg school is to be renovated, and the additions of a new multipurpose hall, culture
centre, kindergarten and urban district local market square will give the area a new and vital
social and cultural hub. New energy and new solutions.
Commercial, industrial and cultural development
The High Technology Centre, the University and Solheimsviken industrial park will be further
developed in the area. Approximately 4-5,000 jobs. New energy and energy solutions.
Strategy plan for the creation of jobs in the culture sector in collaboration with the National
Academy of the Arts, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Organisation and Fretex (redesign).

Eastern side
Innovation arena
Science-based businesses
Western side
Innovation arena
Art and culture businesses

Task solving in health and welfare

The action programme prioritises measures targeting children and young people, immigrants
and the elderly.
Expertise development
Study trips and updating of expertise for project participants is given priority.
Work seminars and thematic seminars form part of the action programme linked to Bergen
University College, and several students are working on assignments in this eld.
Project management: Climate, Environmental Affairs and Urban Development, Agency for Planning and Environment