Espoo residents participate in the preparation of the Espoo Master Plan 2060
The city-wide master plan concerns everyone in Espoo: residents, communities and businesses. Everyone can participate in the work, for example by answering surveys, discussing the plans at events or commenting on them when they are available for public review. Read more about the stages of master planning and how to participate.
We will compile a summary of interaction at different stages of the Espoo Master Plan 2060 on this page. More detailed information can be found in the plan’s interaction reports.
Before the initiation of planning process
Data collection from residents began as early as autumn 2020. In the My Espoo on the Map survey, we collected background information on, for example, which places are important to Espoo residents, how they get from one place to another, which places they would like to see developed and which places would be suitable for additional development. Approximately 6,600 residents responded to the map-based survey.
In spring 2022, we conducted the Our Espoo 20X0 event series. In total, there were 14 events where residents, elected officials and experts discussed the future of Espoo. The discussions were documented, and the results were utilised when drafting the objectives for the Espoo Master Plan 2060.
More information:
Starting stage and objectives of the plan
When the planning process was initiated in the autumn of 2022, we published a participation and assessment scheme that Espoo residents could comment on. We organised two residents’ events and conducted a quick survey, in which Espoo residents could propose and vote on things that will be important in the Espoo of the future.
Residents’ values and wishes are strongly reflected in the objectives of the plan, which the City Board approved in spring 2023. We presented the objectives of the master plan at a remote event, which was accompanied by a survey.
We asked the residents’ associations of the major districts to form a common view of the development of their area. In addition, we organised a workshop to discuss these wishes while looking at maps.
The Espoo Master Plan 2060 was also presented in regional residents’ evenings organised by the City Planning Department in different parts of Espoo in 2023.
More information:
The draft plan was available for public review in summer 2024
The draft plan is the first version of the master plan. It was available for public review from 3 June to 3 September 2024. The plan was available for public review on the city’s website and at service points across the city. During the public review, residents and other interested parties had the opportunity to comment on the draft.
The City Planning Department organised 12 residents’ events during the review period, including a remote information session, regional events in each of the major districts, and Swedish and English-language events. A pop-up exhibition was on display in KAMU in the WeeGee building throughout the summer and, on Espoo Day on 31 August 2024, visitors had the chance to meet the planners and other experts. Residents’ associations assembled again to comment on the plans by major district.
In total, the map platform and the registry received almost 1,500 opinions. Neighbouring towns and regional actors such as the ELY Centre, HSL and HSY submitted their statements. Feedback was also collected from children, young people and people with an immigrant background through extensive cooperation with educational institutions.
All feedback was processed by the planners of the City Planning Department. All feedback is valuable information for the planning process. Some feedback can directly lead to a change in a specific design solution, whereas some feedback may require further investigation.
Besides the feedback, planning is also influenced by many other factors and past decisions. In addition, residents have many different and diverging views. Planning is about coordination and seeking the best possible solution. When a plan proposal is published, its plan summary explains how feedback has been taken into account in the planning.
An interaction report on the preparation stage of the master plan and the public review of the draft is being prepared and will be published in early 2025.
You can familiarise yourself with the draft plan on this page, under “Preparation stage”.
More information:
Plan proposal under preparation in 2025
In 2025, we will prepare the plan proposal. During this time, planners will meet with residents at events organised by the city, such as regional residents’ nights. Information on current events in urban planning can be found in the event list. See the list.
In spring and early summer, we implemented an Idea Sprint for Espoo residents, in which the city residents brainstormed ideas for the future of the city's urban centres. Approximately 30 applicants were selected, representing as many types of residents as possible from different parts of the city. They produced idea works in small groups on Espoon keskus, Espoonlahti, Kauklahti, Leppävaara, Matinkylä and Tapiola. In September, the works were on display for Espoo residents in six places around the city. On Espoo Day, we organised an event at the Sello library. Read more about the Idea Sprint and explore the idea works on the website!
In spring 2025, we wrote a blog series that opens up the many aspects of master planning.
The plan proposal will be made available for public review in 2026
Once the plan proposal is made available for public review, Espoo residents will have the opportunity to submit objections to it. We will publish a notice announcing that the plan materials are available for public review on the city’s website, in Länsiväylä and in Hufvudstadsbladet.
If you would like to receive an email when the plan proposal is made available for public review, please subscribe to the Have Your Say Now newsletter (in Finnish). The newsletter is published every two weeks and contains information about all the Urban Environment projects that you can influence, as well as information about residents’ events. Go to subscribe to the newsletter.
