Transforming rural regions by launching scenarios, new narratives and attractive urban design.

Regions and medium size cities in the Baltic Sea Region periphery are threatened by migration. In some rural areas, cultivated landscape and settlements are abandoned. At the same time world population is growing and cities are growing with an increasing number of problems. Rural regions, smaller towns and cities need to become attractive for labor, for young families and investments. This means the identity of these areas, i.e. transforming business life, city structures and governance need to be redesigned. Therefore, better planning tools, new development strategies and joint community projects are needed.

The project “Trans in Form” aims to introduce competitive development concepts for rural regions, smaller towns and cities. It will raise awareness among both policy makers and citizens about regional attractiveness and potential. Project partners are small cities and regions in Norway, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Germany. In addition the project has copartners in Russia and Belarus. 

“Trans in Form” will design an Attractivity Barometer as a tool to analyse the situation in all regions, look further at regional scenarios and perspectives, population and labour market (SME’s). The project will make a toolbox for Regional Scenario Planning and guidelines for New Narratives and storytelling. “Trans in Form” will study best practice and produce regional improvement plans and furthermore carry out an investment pilot, evaluated by partners and professionals, which could demonstrate a possible way of redesigning and creating more interaction in public spaces. The elaboration of diverse toolboxes for analysing rural BSR, with regards to attractiveness, will give guidelines for new approaches to scenario planning together with good governance practices.

The project seeks synergies with other EU projects such as The ESPON project PURR (Potential for Rural Regions) Notodden municipality is lead stakeholder in that project.

If you want to know more please contact: Local coordinator