Skanska Report Calls for Long Term Urban Development Strategies to Strengthen City Resilience and Investment Value

Skanska Report Calls for Long Term Urban Development Strategies to Strengthen City Resilience and Investment Value

(IN BRIEF) Skanska’s new report Shaping Sustainable Places urges cities, developers, and investors to move beyond short-term project delivery and focus on creating long-term social and financial value. The report identifies risks associated with short-term thinking and outlines four key actions, including designing for adaptability, fostering collaboration, engaging communities, and measuring broader performance indicators. It highlights the growing importance of climate risk in shaping investment decisions and calls for a more resilient, future-oriented approach to urban development.

(PRESS RELEASE) STOCKHOLM, 13-Apr-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Skanska is calling for a fundamental shift in how cities approach urban development, urging stakeholders to prioritize long-term value creation over short-term project delivery. In its latest report, Shaping Sustainable Places, the company highlights the risks associated with focusing too narrowly on immediate performance, warning that such approaches can weaken resilience, reduce competitiveness, and erode long-term economic returns.

The report emphasizes that cities, developers, and investors must rethink how urban value is defined and delivered. As societal expectations evolve and climate-related risks intensify, there is a growing need to ensure that urban projects not only meet present-day requirements but also remain adaptable and valuable over time. Skanska points out that a disconnect persists between how projects are currently executed in Europe and the United States and how urban environments are expected to perform in the long run.

Claes Larsson, Executive Vice President at Skanska responsible for Commercial Property Development and Investment Properties, describes the current moment as a turning point for urban development. He underscores that success is no longer measured solely by construction outcomes, but by the ability to create places that remain functional, resilient, and beneficial for communities, businesses, and the environment well into the future.

To address these challenges, the report outlines four key strategies. First, designing with flexibility in mind ensures that buildings and infrastructure can adapt to future needs, preserving their value and minimizing the need for costly retrofits. Second, fostering collaboration among stakeholders from the earliest stages improves alignment, predictability, and long-term results. Third, engaging local communities throughout the development process helps reduce delays, strengthens demand, and supports stable occupancy. Finally, adopting comprehensive measurement frameworks that include social, environmental, and economic factors enables more informed decision-making and stronger outcomes over time.

Lena Hök, Executive Vice President for Sustainability and Innovation at Skanska, highlights the increasing role of climate risk in shaping investment and regulatory landscapes. She notes that as institutions such as investors, insurers, and central banks incorporate climate considerations into their decision-making, the value of buildings and urban districts will increasingly depend on their ability to adapt and remain resilient. Since buildings are fixed assets, their long-term viability relies on forward-thinking design, collaboration, and meaningful performance measurement.

The report is aimed at policymakers, investors, and urban planners seeking to create sustainable and enduring urban environments. It positions long-term thinking as essential to ensuring that cities remain competitive, resilient, and capable of delivering value across generations.

Download the full report and associated material here: www.skanska.com

This and previous releases can also be found at www.skanska.com.

Skanska Group uses its knowledge and foresight to shape the way people live, work, and connect. We are one of the world’s largest construction and project development companies, with 2025 revenue totaling SEK 179 billion. We operate across select markets in the Nordics, Europe and USA. Together with our customers and the collective expertise of our 26,000 teammates, we create innovative and sustainable solutions that support healthy living beyond our lifetime.

Media Contact:

Jacob Birkeland
Head of Media Relation and Public Affairs, Skanska Group,
Tel: +46 (0)10 449 04 94

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SOURCE: Skanska