ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with strategic planning for the urban region around Bergen. Bergen, the second largest city of Norway, forms the urban core and it houses half the population of Hordaland County in western Norway (Bergen has 225 000 inhabitants, there are 304 000 in the Bergen commuter zone, and in Hordaland in total420000, or 10 per cent of the Norwegian population). Hordaland is in many respects "an average Norwegian county", but in one respect it is exceptional, as it contains one major city, which is oversize in relation to its hinterland. Located in southern Norway, Hordaland is certainly not a peripheral region. But the county has poor road and rail access, being to a large extent dependent upon ferry and boat transport to reach international markets. Agricultural land is sparse and scattered. As mountains and fjords dominate the scenery, tourist attractions are abundant, as is hydropower. The latter is the basis for power-consuming manufacturing, notably aluminium and ferro-alloy smelters. Shipping, shipyards and yards building rigs for the offshore industries are important parts of the industrial picture, as well as fish farming and all "upstream" and "downstream" production and services connected to maritime activities and fishing. Services and industries connected to the offshore petroleum activity are of growing importance, including one large oil refmery and units for processing and transport of natural gas.
