Possible futures of Barkaby Handelsplats

Possible futures of Barkaby Handelsplats: Navigating its Development through Scenario Planning

By Eric Alder, Gordon Falk, Jannis Meyer, Joella Andersson and Olle Hjelm

Barkarby Handelsplats is one of Järfälla municipality’s most important locations and draws thousands of visitors each year. Despite its prosperity, the retail park can not remain in its present form and function forever. Global trends and external changes will put inevitable pressure for development and the car dependent consumption hub does not resonate well with the municipality’s sustainability goals. Therefore this report will look into possible future developments for the area by creating three separate future scenarios for 2050. The scenarios are based on current global trends, with one forecasting scenario and two “what if” scenarios exploring large scale retail and climate transformations. The aim of these scenarios is to investigate the potential futures and evaluate their consequences on Järfälla. They are therefore analysed in relation to Barkarby Handelsplats, looking into their respective opportunities and challenges. From this, it is explored how Järfälla municipality proactively can navigate the future, responding effectively to potential risks and embracing emerging opportunities. The analysis shows that there are several responses the municipality is recommended to consider, that would aid the development of Barkarby Handelsplats regardless of which direction the future takes. A conclusion is that Järfälla municipality should engage early with actors and stakeholders to facilitate the necessary transformations and make use of its neighbouring pockets of opportunity, Barkarbystaden and Järvafältet in its development. The given recommendations therefore focus on three objectives; mediating the change, creating strategies for urban transformation and promoting sustainable transport.

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