Abstract
Urban growth and second homes are claimed to be closely connected, partly because urban growth can ‘push’ second homes out from former rural areas, and partly because second homes may have a role to play in urban growth. The article discusses such a connection based on a study conducted in the Oslo area of Norway. The analysis shows that second homes and urban growth to some degree are connected in Oslo, but that governmental regulations hinder a potentially stronger connection. This is partly due to a ban on new second homes in some areas, and partly because regulations obstruct second home areas from being transformed into residential areas. Further, there has been a rise in the numbers of Oslo inhabitants owning second homes in new and growing second home areas located at increasingly greater distances from the city. Such areas are thus contributing to a diffusion of urban space in rural areas. Finally, the study highlights how urban growth is only one factor influencing the location of second homes owned by inhabitants of Oslo, while scarcity of available land and changes in demand are additional variables.
Published Version
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