Distressed social housing estates – or ghettos – are currently a hot political topic in Denmark. This master’s thesis examines the implications of municipalities’ increased use of strategic planning to improve conditions in distressed social housing estates in Denmark. The effects on the municipalities’ role as planning authority and the role of the social housing organizations are also examined in relation to strategic planning. The thesis is based on a case study of the fund Realdania’s By i Balance project’s current collaboration with Høje-Taastrup Municipality and three social housing organizations in that municipality. Through interviews, observations of meetings, site analyses and document analyses, the authors describe the formulation process of a strategic development plan for three distressed social housing estates. The process is then analyzed and explained using Patsy Healey’s theories about strategisation and its four steps, as well as other theoretical concepts. Findings from the case study include that framings and narratives are created in order to integrate the distressed social housing estates with the rest of the city. Based on its findings, the thesis includes a list of condensed recommendations for future use of strategic planning in distressed social housing estates. The thesis concludes that strategic planning holds promise for transforming distressed social housing estates as it can lead to ambitious transformations plans although the management and coordination of subsequent projects and actors can be a challenge. Municipal urban planners and social housing organizations alike must possess skills in network governance in order to foster the necessary collaboration between the municipality, social housing organizations and other strategic partners.