For several years, the district of Biskopsgården has been beset by major challenges in the form of significant crime and high levels of insecurity. In 2015, the district was classified by the police as a particularly vulnerable area. Since then, the area has undergone major changes. This applies not least to the centrally located Vårväderstorget, which will be Sweden’s first safety-certified square in a vulnerable area.
The municipal council in the City of Gothenburg established in the 2020 budget the ambition that Gothenburg should not have any particularly vulnerable areas. Framtiden Group, of which GöteborgsLokaler is a part, was given a central role in the work to achieve the goal and, against this background, developed a group-wide development strategy, the company says in a press release.
The local squares are an important part of the development strategy and Vårväderstorget in Biskopsgården has been a vulnerable area in Gothenburg that GöteborgsLokaler owns and manages. Thus, they are responsible for the development of the place and have made a major investment in Vårväderstorget.
During the past two years, the square has undergone extensive renovation and remodeling. Based on a clear place identity with inspiration from the city’s target image of the garden city, the square has become Trädgårdstorget.
— Facades and roofs have been painted green, shutters have been replaced with safety-protected glass, green plants and unique furniture have been placed in the square, which invite spontaneous meetings. In addition, we have taken several other measures to increase safety, such as better lighting and clearer signage, says Anders Rydholm, property manager at GöteborgsLokaler in the press release.
Builds on “situational crime prevention”
To ensure that the square meets the requirements for a safe and secure place, the square has been certified based on the principles in the manual BoTryggt2030. The certification is carried out by Stiftelsen Tryggare Sverige and is based on the knowledge of so-called situational crime prevention through architectural design, CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design).
“The certification is proof that the property owner, based on current research and proven experience, has made conscious choices to reduce crime as far as possible and increase security on the site,” says Peter Strandell, director of operations at Stiftelsen Tryggare Sverige.
The new Vårväderstorget was officially inaugurated on 23 April. On April 27, GöteborgsLokaler celebrates the major renovation together with the public and tenants on the square.
The photo shows the opening of the new Vårväderstorget, where Peter Strandell from the foundation Tryggare Sverige issued Vårväderstorget’s safety certification to GöteborgsLokaler’s chairman Ingela Tuvegran and Framtiden’s chairman Aslan Akbas. Photo: Carina Gran/Göteborgslokaler
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Tags: crime insecurity Swedens safetycertified square vulnerable area
