This study tries to identify how priorities are structured, what influences the decision process and if a holistic approach of sustainable development can be implemented in social housing renovation cases. In order to find answers a real renovation scenario is selected as a case study for this thesis; the project of Ellebo estate at Ballerup municipality (Denmark). This renovation project is the winner of the Nordic Built Challenge and aims to become a demonstration project of sustainable development. As the winner of the Nordic Built Challenge, conducted for the first time, generates questions if this case can be seen as a ‘niche’ and what possible changes can be occurred in the existing system.

A literature review has been conducted in order to gain a coherent overview of the problematic areas in relation to the social housing sector and the challenges of conducting a renovation. The social housing sector has to deal with social, functional and energy concerns in order to become attractive and antagonistic again in the housing market. The analysis of this report is mainly based on the data collected through interviews with the stakeholders of the project. In order to understand the case, the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) and the Transition Theory (TT) are used to draw the analytical framework. A stakeholders analysis in relation to the decision making process is also part of the theories used for understanding the actual role of the stakeholders, their interaction and the degree of influence.

The analysis indicates that each social housing renovation case is unique, having different problems and challenges, and the priorities are affected by the different stakeholders’ interests, technical problems and funding. In Ellebo case many different interests have to become aligned and the stakeholders try to keep a balance between the priorities as possible. The Ellebo case is able to change the existing practices especially by the new knowledge and experience offering. Nevertheless, the Ellebo project might not be able to change dramatically the existing system; it seems that it is quite difficult even in a demonstration project like this to change the focus of the social housing renovation agenda towards sustainability aspects.