Day care centre and diverse housing to be built in Kiltaveljenmäki
The City of Espoo is preparing an amendment to the detailed plan for Kiltaveljenmäki as a response to the long-standing need for day-care places in Espoon keskus. This amendment would allow the construction for a new day care centre and housing in the area. The northern and central parts as well as the southwestern corner of the plan area will be retained as a local forest, with all of its recreational routes.
Services and transport a stone’s throw away
Kiltaveljenmäki stands in a central location of Espoon keskus, less than half a kilometre from the train station. It features a wooded slope that is partially in its natural state, which lands towards the north and east.
There is an unbuilt plot for a day care centre in the western part of the plan area, on top of the hill, which has access from Kiltakallio. With this amendment to the detailed plan, the size of the day care plot is reduced, and its parking arrangements are changed to better consider the nature of the area. The objective is to retain a part of the local forest in Kiltaveljenmäki while allowing the day care centre construction and effective parking.
In the east, the plan area ends at Sunantie and is currently mainly unbuilt. With this amendment, the Art Nouveau style detached house higher up on the slope, which is privately owned, will be protected. There is a proposal for supplementary residential construction in the area between the protected house and Sunantie.
The participation and assessment scheme and preparation materials of the plan were made available for public review in 2024. The city has received resident feedback and taken as much of it into account in the plan proposal.
Changes in traffic arrangements with the amendment
Changes in the traffic arrangement have been considered from the perspectives of the current state and the plans in the participation and assessment scheme. The scheme proposes changes to the intersections as well as walking and cycling arrangements on Sunantie. There is also a plan for a new street in the area, Veljesmäki. The plan proposes that the parking arrangements for the day care centre would mainly be on Kilta-aukio, where the parking area can serve other users in the evenings and weekends.
New traffic arrangements have had a part in reducing the size of the day care plot in this amendment from the plans in the preparation stage and the existing detailed plan. These changes will allow the city to retain a larger part of the local forest and the natural values.
Variety of housing
To the west of Sunantie, the plan includes new residential blocks and detached houses for approximately 75 new residents. The amount of residential construction has been reduced based on the resident feedback.
The planners have paid particular attention to a variety of the residential offering. In addition to residential blocks, the plan for the area includes semi-detached houses and terraced houses. Residential blocks can include various flats of different sizes, and as the landowner, the city can direct the projects more closely when it comes to the size distribution, management form and quality objectives of the flats.
Difficulties in mixing natural values and services
Feedback indicated a wish for a more detailed report on the natural values. A study on the ecological state of Kiltaveljenmäki was commissioned, which provided new, detailed information on the natural values of the area. This new study found a natural-state spring and stream in the northwestern part of area, which are protected under the Water Act. The spring and stream are outside the planned day care plot, but the construction project is likely to have an impact on their natural state.
The residents also brought forward well-justified opinions on the need for natural restoration and the importance of the typical flora and fauna. These opinions have been considered in the planning as far as possible, such as by protecting the travel routes of the flying squirrel in the area, retaining trees important for the landscape of the area, and by allowing decaying wood in yards and the local forest during the construction work.
Detailed planning must reconcile the various needs in the area, such as natural values, recreational use, services, housing, transport and the development of the urban structure. The plan area is in a central location, a stone’s throw from the services in Espoon keskus and its good public transport connections, which speaks for the development of the area. An alternative location for the day care centre has not been found in Espoon keskus. Siting the day care centre the eastern edge of the plan area was studied in planning, but the area was not suitable for a day care centre due to the narrow shape and rough terrain.
The city has considered the loss of natural values due to the construction in the area against its need for early childhood education and has discussed the matter with the supervisory authorities. Based on these discussions with the authorities, the City of Espoo has decided to apply for an exemption permit under the Water Act, which would allow the construction of the day care centre in the area despite the natural-state spring and stream.
Discourse around Kiltaveljenmäki continues
The City Planning Committee will discuss the plan proposal on 30 September 2026. If the Committee decides to submit the proposal to public review, residents and other stakeholders will get to study them and provide their comments this autumn. During the public review, the city will hold a residents’ event regarding the plan.
Go to the plan website.
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