Creation of urban images is part of the global economy, and modern townscapes are results of interplay between politics, culture and markets. Global ideals within architecture and planning have left imprints on local town development in Norway. Cultural heritage is affected by these processes, and the role cultural heritage plays in creating urban images is analysed in a qualitative case-study of four medium sized Norwegian towns. Through interviews with central actors in the planning process and analyses of planning documents on municipal and county level, the main questions raised are how municipal planners relate to questions concerning integration of historic fabric in new urban development. Has increased focus on culture in urban planning led to new planning strategies and more cooperation between municipal planners and cultural heritage managers? Despite the fact that the towns in focus have an urban core stamped as valuable historic centre, the results show that this is not sufficient to give the cultural heritage managers empowerment outside their limited domain. Actual planning practice reveals that the cultural heritage is handled more as a useful means in the rhetoric of local politics than as an important resource for a sustainable future. Fragmented planning renders consideration to the reciprocity which exists between the historic fabric, the townscape and the natural environment difficult. The results are discussed in view of the central role aesthetics and visuality has been ascribed in contemporary cities, and how the introduction of New Liberalism planning principles has affected cultural heritage management at municipal level. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
