Bynært landbruk og byvekst : landskapsendringer og landskapsverdier ved Øvre Rotvoll

Abstract

Today Norway practice a strict policy of planning regulations in order to protect agricultural areas and keep land under cultivation. 3% of Norway's total land area is arable, where only 1% is suitable for grain cultivation. Many of these areas are close to larger cities and towns. Norway is experiencing an increasing level of urbanization and population growth, which puts a huge strain on arable land. More space is needed for infrastructure development, housing and industrial development. Hence, in the surroundings of urban areas conflicts arise between the need for land for urban development on the one side, and the national policy of keeping agrarian land in production on the other. This master thesis examines Øvre Rotvoll, an area east of the city centre of Trondheim, where there still is grain production but where infrastructure development the last decades has made agrarian activity increasingly difficult. Future plans for road construction an housing development has escalated the conflicting concerns. This thesis look at how these issues are perceived locally, more specifically what are the views of local politicians, landowners, public officials in the municipality and at the regional level. Through a qualitative approach these actors have been interviewed regarding what they see as `proper` land use at Øvre Rotvoll, how they view changes in the area and what type of landscape values they ascribe to this area. Further, the study investigates which lines of arguments are presented by the actors regarding the development in the area and how power structures may be reflected in this argumentation.