Territorial Review Copenhagen - Region Hovedstaden

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compact, higher-density growth was demanded) for 15 economic areas in
the United States. The five-year study found that sprawl could result in
USD 227 billion in additional costs to the United States over a 25-year
period (Burchell et al., 2002). Researchers found that controlled growth
could be achieved with only a 20% increase in density and a 10% increase
in floor area ratio for non-residential uses. This produced large cost
savings: Burchell‘s simulations estimated that a saving of
188 300 lane miles of local roads and USD 110 billion could be achieved
by 2025 with more compact patterns, a saving of 11.8% in state and local
road costs. Water and sewer savings, though significant, were smaller;
with compact growth patterns, the combined cost savings of lower tap-in
fees and 4.6 million fewer lateral lines would offer infrastructure savings
of USD 12.6 billion, or 6.6%, over 25 years (Burchell et al., 2002).
24 It is possible to find information, download application forms and
information regarding district plans and regulations at:
www.kk.dk/Borger/BoligOgByggeri/Byggetilladelse.aspx. The City of
Copenhagen has created a webpage called "Det digitale byggeri" ("Digital
construction") which helps different actors in the building sector find
information and development tools. The links are:
www.detdigitalebyggeri.dk/ (Danish) and http://digitalconstruction.dk/
(English) (Elisabeth Kongsmark, City of Copenhagen, personal
correspondence).
25 If the governments in the Copenhagen metro region were to go forward,
the next step might consist in adopting Vancouver‘s strategy, which
entailed (a) a comprehensive analysis of housing demand and needs
across the region, (b) the establishment of regional affordable housing
targets by tenure, demographic categories, cost and income ranges, and
(c) outlining possible regional implementation strategies (City of
Vancouver, 2007).
26 Work conducted by DiPasquale and Wheaton (1994) provides an
analytical framework for such a study, emphasising the multiple factors
that influence housing prices.
27 Under social housing legislation, municipalities can grant a basic capital
loan (currently 14% of construction costs) and provide a guarantee for the
construction of social housing. When granting a basic capital loan and
guarantee, the municipality may legally impose requirements with regard
to the design and quality of the building, the size of the rent and the
letting criteria, for example.
28 Before the Housing Construction Law (lov nr 356 af 27. december 1958
om boligbyggeri) was ratified in 1958, municipalities could provide
economic support for the construction of social housing. Since the
ratification of the law, there has been a general acceptance in the legal