A good centre offers diverse services close to home  

  • City planning
  • Participation and influencing
3.11.2021 7.10
Matinkylä’s shopping centre, Iso Omena, was named as a functional centre the highest number of times. 

Diverse services, close to home, easy to reach using various transport options. These three factors were most frequently mentioned by the respondents of the My Espoo on the Map survey when describing the district centres that are already functional in their current form. 

The survey asked the respondents to mark down Espoo’s centres that are functional as they are and those that need improvements, as well as propose completely new ones. Because most services in Espoo’s district centres are located in shopping centres, these featured heavily in the responses as well. Matinkylä’s shopping centre, Iso Omena, was named as a functional centre the highest number of times. 

The respondents were also asked for ideas to further increase the centres’ functionality.  In particular, respondents stated that they would prefer to have more services in the high streets, in addition to the shopping centres. They would also like the centres to have cosy pedestrian zones and parks. Furthermore, the centres’ overall tidiness was amongst the focal points of the respondents, who felt that older, dilapidated buildings and environments should be repaired or regenerated.  Espoon keskus was mentioned the highest number of times as a centre that requires improvements. 

The respondents wanted smaller centres, in particular, to have more diverse services and bigger supermarkets. They also proposed improvement ideas on parking, transport connections and smooth use of different transport modes.  

The respondents marked down new centres in both new locations and existing centres. Markings for new centre locations included the likes of Kera and Lommila. Espoonlahti’s shopping centre, Lippulaiva, received the highest number of new centre markings. Lippulaiva’s new shopping centre is under construction, and the area’s residents are eagerly awaiting its completion. 

New centres were marked in locations that currently have few or no services. In fact, the responses clearly indicated that respondents would like diverse services closer to home and do not feel that the existing range of services is sufficient.   

The respondents of the My Espoo on the Map survey marked down approximately 3,200 responses on the map regarding centres. 

New centre, centre requiring improvements and functional existing centre.
The whole Espoo
  • Urban development