The edge

Spring 2007

Small islandregeneration inNorway

The success of Bulandet and Værlandet

Per Arne Tveit looks at a bottom-up perspective on ruraldevelopment planning in twocoastal communities on the WestCoast of Norway

ulandet and Værlandet are thewesternmost communities onthe west coast of Scandinavia.In contrast with many other remotecommunities in rural parts of Norway,these two islands have had anincreasing population during the past10 years. Young people have comehome to the islands after completingtheir education and new inhabitantshave moved in from otherScandinavian countries. In this articlewe try to uncover the secret behindthis success.In December 2003 a new road and fivenew bridges to connect the two islandswere opened. The road and bridgessparethe westernmost islanders from arisky ferrytrip in the open NorthAtlantic Sea, a trip that was previouslyonly taken around 5-7 times a week.Now, with access to the eastern ferryterminal, islanders take up to 3 to 5trips a day; the mainland town of Askvol being just one hour journeyonwards. This new road is a result of along and patient struggle for politicalinfluence and public money,but it isalso the beginning of a new life formany of islanders.The total number of inhabitants in thetwo recently-connected communities isapproximately 450. These inhabitantsshareasurprisingly large number of community services and economicdiversity:

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one school (6 – 16 years) and twokindergartens

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two local stores, one pub and onecafeteria