Master plan for northern and central parts of Espoo now legally valid
The Supreme Administrative Court did not grant leave to appeal and dismissed one appeal concerning the master plan for the northern and central parts of Espoo. The plan will enter into force when it is declared valid in early 2024. After that, detailed planning in the area will continue.
The master plan for the northern and central parts of Espoo (POKE) covers about half of the Espoo region. The plan is set for 2050. The plan prepares for the growth to occur in Espoo and creates the conditions for a well-functioning city where services and good public transport connections are part of the everyday life of all city residents. Over the next few decades, residential construction, workplace areas and the transport network will be managed as a whole. By concentrating housing and jobs in urban centres, the natural and cultural environments of surrounding them can be preserved.
The region’s current Kalajärvi centre will be developed and new local centres will be built along public transport connections. At the same time, the prerequisites for adequate housing production and good public transport will be created. A new city-wide master plan is currently being prepared in Espoo, and it will include POKE and Espoo’s other partial master plans.
The master plan for the northern and central parts of Espoo was approved by the Espoo City Council in November 2021. An appeal against the decision to approve the plan was lodged with the Helsinki Administrative Court, which in January 2023 overturned all the appeals. Some of the appellants appealed against the ruling of the Administrative Court in the Supreme Administrative Court, which is why the master plan for the northern and central parts of Espoo only entered into force on 21 February 2024 by the decision of the Supreme Administrative Court.
Detailed planning in POKE area to be continued
The master plan’s entry into force will enable the long-awaited detailed planning of detached house areas in the northern and central parts of Espoo. Once POKE is legally valid, the preparation of the detailed plans for the area will be continued. The district plans of Kalajärvi and Viiskorpi will be completed and the first thing to be promoted are the detailed plans of these areas, which include Vaskistamäki, Kalajärvi 1 A, Antinmäki II and Niipperinniitty. The Gobbackantie detailed plan will enable smooth access to the Perusmäki area. The detailed planning of Viiskorpi will be continued as a whole consisting of Rajanummi, Apilamutka, Anfallinmäki, Latopelto and Viiskorpi centre. The development of Lahnus will continue in the Korppi detailed plan. In northwestern Espoo, the detailed planning of the Nupurinkallio detached house areas will continue.
According to a recent study commissioned by the Espoo City Planning Department, Espoo residents would especially like to live in detached houses. In addition to the continuation of the ongoing plans above, the POKE master plan will enable a significant volume of detached house planning in Espoo over the coming decades.
Read more: Master plan for the northern and central areas of Espoo
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