1. A megaproject in the rural fringe of Denmark: Is the Fehmarnbelt Link a win for Guldborgsund Municipality?
- Author
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Bohn, Lasse and Hansen, Jesper Visti
- Subjects
Megaprojekter ,Udkantsdanmark ,Femern-forbindelsen ,Guldborgsund Kommune ,David Harvey ,Bent Flyvbjerg - Abstract
Guldborgsund Municipality is affected due to the geographical location on the map in relation to the upcoming megaproject the Fehmarnbelt Link. As located in the rural fringe of Denmark, the fixed link opens an opportunity for the municipality to gain from the link’s presumed regional effects to step out the fringe and uplift its status to a center between Scandinavia and Europe. Thus, it seems that Guldborgsund Municipality is planning for the future on a dubious basis because of scientific data questioning the megaprojects’ regional effects to mostly marginal.The purpose of this thesis is therefore to test and clarify the impact of megaprojects on the regional context, with a focus on the Fehmarnbelt Link in relation to Guldborgsund Municipality and its geographic location and its consequences, as well as the positioning of the municipality by its potential attractiveness through its spatial planning. The intention is also to create knowledge about the spatial planning of Guldborgsund Municipality and whether this can be seen as a consequence of the potential prospects of the Fehmarnbelt Link if planned in a (too) ambitious context.On the basis of the purpose the main question to be solved is ‘How can the Fehmarnbelt Link affect Guldborgsund Municipality’s future, and its current status in the rural fringe’. To answer this question the thesis has used mixed methods to argue for the inclusion of both qualitative and quantitative methods. The thesis is based on mainly document analysis focusing on scientific articles, municipal plans and news articles with the use of an interview with a settlement consultant and a survey with the citizens of Guldborgsund Municipality.It can be concluded on the basis of the thesis that Guldborgsund Municipality’s purely positive view on the Fehmarnbelt Link is a little naïve due to the dubious data and forecasts on which the link is based. This may adversely affect the future of the municipality in the light of the physical investments made, particularly in the field of business-related spatial planning. Further, comparable mega-projects do not make any particular gains for the local area which Guldborgsund does not seem to note. However, the municipality can also be affected in a positive direction when the focus is on the city Nykøbing Falster because it is connecting to an international and upgraded rail link, which according to several statistics will increase settlement, but at the expense of the rest of the municipality. The planned spatial planning is an expression of a municipality with great ambitions, especially for a peripheral area, which means a high positioning among comparable municipalities. However, the municipality is depending on the success of the Fehmarnbelt Link in order to achieve this.
- Published
- 2020