Number of building permits for new constructions soars to record high in Espoo

In January–March, approximately 1,730 new homes were granted building permits in Espoo.

“This is a record number. It is 40 per cent higher than the average of the same period in the previous five years,” says Pasi Timo, Director of the Environment and Building Control Department.

The growth has been the greatest in permits granted for detached houses.

During the first three months of 2022, a total of 118 new building permits for new residential constructions were granted. This is approximately 25 per cent more than the average of the previous five years and six per cent more than in the previous record year, 2017. In total, 231 residential buildings were granted building permits. The number of buildings to be constructed is higher than the number of permits granted as permits have been granted for both blocks of flats and detached houses and some of them include several buildings planned on one plot.

Processing of applications on the waiting list has been started

The number of permits granted in March was particularly high. According to Timo, thanks to special arrangements in the Building Control Department, the backlog in the permit processing has been cleared, which also explains the high number of permits granted in the early part of this year.

In mid-February, the Building Control Department stopped assigning permit processors to new applications. Instead, permit processors focused on processing applications that had been received before 14 February.

Processing of applications received since 14 February has now gradually started.

The backlogs in permit processing have been caused by the strong construction trend in Espoo, which has continued for years and has been reflected in the workload of permit processors. The number of staff has not been increased, and several permit processors have recently retired or are about to retire from the Espoo Building Control Department.

“The Building Control Department has had two permit processors who have already retired working as extra hands. The Department is currently seeking a new Permit Architect and the application period for a Townscape Architect ended earlier this week. Recruitment is complicated as a result of the staff shortage in the construction industry,” says Anni Tuominen-Maila, Director of Building Control.

The Environment and Building Control Department has also recommended to the City Board the establishment of three new building control positions.

As a building permit applicant, you can contribute to the smooth processing of your project by careful planning, following the permit application preparation guidelines and promptly submitting additional information upon request. The main principles of the building permit process are available here (in Finnish) and more detailed instructions are available here (in Finnish).

During the first quarter of 2022, the construction of approximately 1,160 homes was started in Espoo and approximately 780 new homes were completed. Active construction will continue along the tracks, for example.