Facts

Contact person:
Mikaela Herbert
Financer:
  • Lars-Erik Lundbergs stipendiestiftelse
Responsible at MaU:
Mikaela Herbert
Time frame:
01 October 2025 - 30 September 2026
Faculty/department:
Research environment :
Research subject:

Project description

Housing has been identified as a key factor for the successful implementation of the Green Transition. In northern Sweden, select places are undergoing rapid economic and social transformation due to large-scale investments. However, this fast-paced change challenges the democratic planning of inclusive communities and societal subsystems—such as housing provision—that typically evolve much more slowly. As a result, informal, temporary, and often unauthorized housing solutions are emerging to meet the surge in demand. International research has shown that these often take hybrid forms, where formal and informal elements intersect.

This project explores the interplay between informal housing and local governance and planning. Focusing on three municipalities—Boden, Luleå, and Skellefteå—it applies socio-material perspectives and qualitative methods to analyze how formal/informal hybridity manifests itself in the local housing stock. Further, it explores how key actors, such as municipal authorities, emergency services, and the police, respond to these developments.

By developing typologies of formal/informal hybridity, including compliance with building standards, rental processes, and actual dwelling use, the project will contribute to a deepened understanding of informal housing dynamics in highly regulated contexts. In sum, the project will fill a critical knowledge gap while offering valuable insights for policy development and practical application across various sectors.