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A number of rural municipalities in Norway suffer from population decline. In an effort to attract new residents, local authorities would like to offer large, attractive and secluded building sites. Moreover, such developments are occurring at the same time as Norway is attempting to reformulate its agricultural policy. The new multifunctional agriculture policy ('Landbruk pluss') denotes the Norwegian Government's new thinking. It seeks to promote new business, jobs and attractive housing schemes – in addition to reducing regulatory complexity. However, local councils may potentially run into problems putting this new policy into practice because the low -density housing model that they espouse in many ways contradicts traditional planning policy, which has tended to favour highdensity housing. Does this mean that low-density housing could become a 'planning problem'? This is the question discussed in this article. The article also focuses on the question of population change in Norway over the last decade: What kind of population distribution pattern can we detect – and thus, can a new housing policy have any influence on the population distribution pattern? ; The paper is published by the European Journal of Spatial Development (EJSD). The previous version of the journal was host by Nordregio.

Polycentricity has become a principle of strategic regional planning in order to con- centrate land use and optimise infrastructure. This paper discusses the possibilities and challenges for a polycentric strategy in relation to Norwegian regional planning. The focus is on the spatial strategy in The regional plan for land use and transport for Oslo and Akershus, and its reception among local authorities, upon which the plan's implemen- tation depends. We have studied the plan's aims and principles in relation to the interests of municipal and district councils as these are communicated in consultative statements in the planning process. The plan aims to increase competitiveness, sustainability, efficient land-use and transport in the region. Polycentric principles are favoured in order to ensure territorial cohesion based on the aims. Even though the plan is generally supported, local authorities point to the risk of intra-regional competition, unequal resource distribution, and unsustainable densification in regional centres. These are challenges that may hamper the sustainable development of the Oslo metropolitan area.

In this article, we discuss local strategies for addressing the adaptation to climate change in Denmark and Norway. In both countries, the national impetus for local ad- aptation is weak. Thus, when it comes to the adaptation to climate change, it is largely left to local actors to take the initiative. The article seeks to shed light on the dynamics of the different approaches to climate change adaptation at the local level. Based on decision-making and learning theory, we present an analytical framework to examine four Scandinavian cases, two in Norway and two in Denmark, which represent two dif- ferent responses, i.e. anticipatory actions and obligatory actions to climate change adap- tation. Two of the municipalities – one in Norway and one in Denmark - are engaged in obligatory action in terms of addressing new climatic conditions and tend to use ex- isting standard operating procedures. The two other municipalities are engaging in an- ticipatory action. They are generally well aware of the adaptation issues and use innova- tive approaches to the new challenges. This research finds that, by bringing in knowledge and resources and engaging in persuasive communication across sectors, the presence of institutional entrepreneurs in the adaptation process plays a key role in building legitimacy for anticipatory action in the municipal organisation. ; Local strategies for adaptation to climate change in Denmark and Norway are discussed. In both countries, the national impetus for local adaptation is weak; it is largely left to local actors to take the initiative. The dynamics of the different approaches to climate-change adaptation at the local level are illuminated. Using decision-making and learning theory, we present an analytical framework to examine four cases, two in Norway and two in Denmark, which represent two different responses, i.e. anticipatory actions and obligatory actions. We find that, by bringing in knowledge and resources and engaging in persuasive communication across sectors, the presence of ...

Local strategies for adaptation to climate change in Denmark and Norway are discussed. In both countries, the national impetus for local adaptation is weak; it is largely left to local actors to take the initiative. The dynamics of the different approaches to climate-change adaptation at the local level are illuminated. Using decision-making and learning theory, we present an analytical framework to examine four cases, two in Norway and two in Denmark, which represent two different responses, i.e. anticipatory actions and obligatory actions. We find that, by bringing in knowledge and resources and engaging in persuasive communication across sectors, the presence of institutional entrepreneurs in the adaptation process plays a key role in building legitimacy for anticipatory action in the municipal organisation. Adapted from the source document.