Sweden's municipal planning system faces a critical test in the affluent suburbs north of Stockholm. A 15-year dispute between Täby and Danderyd municipalities over a new housing development highlights the friction points in a rapidly growing region. The conflict centers on a plan to build 44 townhouses and 8 apartments on an old industrial plot in Täby's Skarpäng area, right on the border with Danderyd's Enebyberg district. The catch? All car traffic from the new neighborhood must exit through Svampvägen, a road that lies entirely within Danderyd's jurisdiction.
For Johanna Hornberger (M), Municipal Commissioner in Danderyd, the issue is clear. "The matter follows a strict process according to the Planning and Building Act," she says. "We have responded to Täby's plans from a Danderyd perspective. We have raised the traffic issues, among other things, and then it is up to Täby municipality to decide in this matter – it is their land." This statement encapsulates a core tension in Swedish municipal law: one municipality can plan on its own land, even when the consequences spill over the border.
The Road That Divides Two Towns
Svampvägen is a quiet, tree-lined street typical of Stockholm's northern suburbs. It was not designed to handle a significant influx of vehicles from a new development. Danderyd's opposition is not about blocking new homes, officials say, but about who bears the cost. Increased traffic means more wear and tear, more maintenance, and potential safety upgrades. For 15 years, Danderyd has consistently flagged these concerns, arguing that Täby's gain should not become Danderyd's financial burden.
"This is a classic Stockholm region problem," says Lars Friman, an urban planning expert at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH). "Municipalities are autonomous in their planning, but people and cars don't respect those lines on a map. We see these disputes over schools, roads, and green spaces whenever a new area is developed. The system relies heavily on voluntary cooperation, and when that fails, there's very little a neighboring municipality can do."
Autonomy vs. Regional Responsibility
The Swedish planning system grants significant power to individual municipalities. This local autonomy is a cherished principle, allowing towns to shape their own futures. However, in densely populated areas like Greater Stockholm, this can lead to a patchwork of decisions with regional consequences. Täby is acting within its rights to develop its land. The old industrial site in Skarpäng represents a chance to add needed housing in a municipality with high demand.
Yet, the plan's traffic solution – funneling all cars through a single road in another municipality – exposes a systemic flaw. There is no strong regional authority with the power to mandate infrastructure sharing or cost-splitting for cross-border impacts. The Stockholm County Administrative Board can offer opinions, but its ability to enforce coordination is limited. This often leads to protracted negotiations or, as in this case, a 15-year stalemate.
"From Täby's perspective, this is a fine solution," Friman notes. "They get new homes and taxpayers without having to widen a major road within their own borders. The cost is externalized. For Danderyd, it's an unfunded mandate. They get the traffic and the bills, with no new tax revenue from the homes creating it."
A Tale of Two Affluent Suburbs
The conflict plays out between two of Sweden's wealthiest municipalities. Both Täby and Danderyd are known for high incomes, excellent schools, and desirable housing. This isn't a clash between a rich and poor municipality; it's a dispute between two privileged neighbors over who pays for growth. It underscores that even in affluent areas, the question of funding infrastructure for new development is contentious.
Residents on Svampvägen and in Enebyberg have watched the debate for over a decade. Many fear increased noise, reduced safety for children, and a change in the character of their quiet neighborhood. "We chose to live here for the peace and quiet," says Anna, a long-time Enebyberg resident who asked not to use her full name. "This plan turns our street into a main artery for Täby. It feels unfair that a decision made in another town hall can so dramatically affect our daily lives."
The Search for a Solution
So, what happens next? The ball is in Täby's court. The municipality can choose to proceed with its plan, relying on its legal right to develop its land. This would likely lead to continued bad blood with its neighbor and possible legal challenges from Danderyd or citizen groups. Alternatively, Täby could seek a negotiated solution. This might involve contributing financially to the upgrade and maintenance of Svampvägen, or exploring alternative access routes, though options appear limited given the geography.
The deadlock has broader implications for Sweden's housing crisis. The country, particularly the Stockholm region, needs to build hundreds of thousands of new homes. Delays caused by inter-municipal disputes add time and cost to projects. Experts argue that without better mechanisms for regional cooperation, these conflicts will only multiply.
"We need to start thinking more in terms of functional geographic areas, not just municipal borders," argues Friman. "Maybe it's time for stronger metropolitan planning bodies, or clearer rules about cost-sharing for cross-border infrastructure. The current model, built for a less interconnected time, is showing its strain."
For now, the old industrial plot in Skarpäng remains untouched. The plans are drawn, the concerns are logged, and the road in Danderyd waits. The standoff between Täby and Danderyd is more than a local zoning issue. It is a microcosm of the growing pains facing a successful region, a test case for whether local autonomy and regional needs can find a better balance. The outcome will set a precedent, signaling how Sweden's suburbs will manage the difficult, shared project of building their future.
Will 15 years of disagreement finally force a new model of cooperation, or will one municipality simply build and let the other pay? The answer lies somewhere on the road between them.