Stockholm Royal Seaport shows the way towards a sustainable future

Stockholm Royal Seaport is a sustainability-profiled area designated by the Stockholm City Council with the task of testing and developing new solutions and processes for a more sustainable future. Former industrial land is being transformed into a green and vibrant part of Stockholm. This is where we publish progress updates on our sustainability initiatives and our various innovation projects.The mission is defined by Programme for Sustainable Urban Development revised in 2021.

Stockholm Royal Seaport, one of Europe's largest urban development areas, aims to build 12,000 new homes and 35,000 workplaces. The area is being transformed into a sustainable urban district with schools, preschools, parks. The goal is to become fossil fuel-free by 2030, contributing to Stockholm's ambition to be fossil-free and climate-positive by 2040.

Explore Stockholm Royal Seaport in two minutes

Staffan Lorentz, Head of Development, talks about Stockholm Royal Seaport to the UN Environment Program, UNEP, in May 2022. A two-minute film that gives an informative introduction to the work and the area.

Flygbild med Loudden och Frihamnen i förgrunden och Värtahamnen, Energihamnen och Hjorthagen i bakgrunden — The subareas: Loudden, Frihamnen, Värtahamnen and HjorthagenLennart Johansson

Aerial view of Hjorthagen with new development area along the Husarviken bay — In Hjorthagen, 3,160 of 7,000 homes have been built with the Gasworks area as the hubLennart Johansson

Aerial view of Stockholm Royal Seaport seen from the north in 2021 — Stockholm Royal Seaport seen from the north in 2021Lennart Johansson

Dwellings along Husarviken with gasholders in the bakground in Stockholm Royal Seaport — Phase Norra 2 along Husarviken

Aerial view of the dwellings in Brofästet with Husarviken on the right side — View of the phase Brofästet with Husarviken on the right side

Close up of Stockholm Exergi biopower plant building — The world's largest biopower plant, Stockholm Exergi Lars Trangius

Aerial view of oil tanks in the foreground in Loudden. Frihamnen, Energihamnen and Hjorthagen in the background. — View from the south before the oil tanks were taken down and the container handling was relocated Lennart Johansson

The Värta terminal. The main building on the left and a cruise ship on the right — Värtaterminalen

Machine cutting cisterns in Loudden — Demolitions of cisterns at Loudden

How we work

Planning of the Stockholm Royal Seaport development project started in 2001. In 2009, Stockholm City Council decided that the project would be a model for sustainable urban development.

The land is managed by the City Development Administration, which also project manages development and sustainability work in close collaboration with most of the City of Stockholm’s other administrations and municipal companies. The urban development project is funded by land sales and land rights fees.

During 2011, the cross-departmental working groups with experts from related administrations and companies were established. The task of the working groups is to define the sustainability issues that needs to be addressed, define goals and translate them into requirements for developers and the City’s own activities.

The requirements are followed up and verified at all stages – from early design to operations. Developers report results in a web-based monitoring database. The reported results are reviewed and approved. The working groups continuously evaluate the work and the results. This, in combination with external auditing, results in constantly improving goals.

Working group participants are also tasked with disseminating experience within their administrations and companies and to other City of Stockholm projects. Continuous capacity building is vital to achieve the high ambitions of the Stockholm Royal Seaport project. Therefore, the development and innovation work is well integrated in the work process.

Illustration showing the five goal areas that will ensure that Stockholm Royal Seaport is developed in a sustainable manner. — The five goals will ensure that Stockholm Royal Seaport is developed sustainable

Two images in one. Left image shows children outside learning about recycling and image on the right shoes a Pop-up Reuse station — Innovation process: from co-creation in recycling to Pop-up Reuse station

The visions and goals that were decided by Stockholm City Council in 2010 were revised in 2017 and 2021 in the Programme for Sustainable Urban Development.

The Sustainability work is guided by five goals: Vibrant city, Accessibility and proximity, Resource efficiency and reduced climate impact, Let nature do the work and Participation and learning and defined through sustainability goals and planning principles. Sustainability goals and city planning principles are connected and include ecological, economic and social aspects.

In order to achieve the ambitious sustainability goals, research and development projects are ongoing.

A place characterized by diversity and contrasts

Stockholm Royal Seaport is brimming with diversity and contrast. There is variety in its urban and natural environments with different characters and expressions, ranging from small-scale housing construction and beautiful natural surroundings to heavily developed and large-scale industrial environments for ports and energy facilities. Here, old meets new, and large meets small.

Six small images showing the area's six characters — The area's six characters

Water is a constant feature and contributes to the dynamics of the area. Port areas are planned so as to become a natural part of the city. When the city is opened up and connected, people can move more easily on foot or by bicycle within and through the area.

Building on what already exists is a necessary prerequisite for long-term sustainable urban development and at the same time the basis for creating a dynamic and attractive urban environment.

Stockholm Royal Seaports close proximity to the waters of Lilla Värtan and the Royal National City Park provides unique opportunities.

The old buildings in Hjorthagen link to Gasverket, where gas production ceased in 2011. Gasverkets old industrial buildings have considerable potential for new inspiring uses and the area is gradually opening up.

Some of the industrial activity, will be further developed, such as energy production at Värtaverket and the port's operations, while others, such as oil management at Loudden, will be phased out.

By creating and strengthening dispersal zones for flora and fauna throughout the area to the adjacent Royal National City Park, natural values and connections are strengthened.vParks and green spaces also strongly characterise this part of Stockholm.

Children and adults playing in a fountain in Storängstorget, Stockholm Royal Seaport — Playful fountain in Storängstorget

Updated: 17/10/2023