The Roles of Housing Developers in Sustainability Transformations: Opportunities, Barriers and Tradeoffs

Abstract

The thesis investigates the role and potential of housing developers in sustainability transformations, through a case study of OBOS. Qualitative interviews were the main research method, in addition to review of municipal plans and relevant literature. The thesis takes a critical perspective, and emphasizes the aspect of environmental sustainability and the issue of land conversion. The findings of the study support the characterization of planning in Norway as premised on ecomodernism and reliant on growth, by showing how this is reinforced in the inter-dependence and alignment of interests and housing developers. It calls for public sector initiative in leading transformative change, as housing developers are seen to be constrained by their commercial role and market competition. In contrast to existing literature, housing developers in the study were found to be positive to increased regulation, and therefore may be less opposed to sustainability policy than previously expected. At the same time, the developers experienced lack of coordination and consistency in the government as major barriers, which are hindering the implementation of sustainability policy. Lastly, the thesis indicates that transformations to sustainability may be more difficult in rural areas, as the dependence on growth seems higher in rural municipalities, and developers in rural areas were found to be more resistant to change.