Vantaa’s new local master plan to enter partly into force in January 2023

Local master plan to guide Vantaa’s sustainable growth 

The city executive council decided to announce the entry into force of the 2020 local master plan except for the parts that are deemed to be repealed by an administrative court decision or that are under handling because of further appeals. The local master plan will enter into force by announcement on January 11, 2023. The city council approved the new local master plan already last year, but 16 appeals about the decision were submitted to Helsinki Administrative Court. The administrative council decided on the appeals last summer and rejected the majority of them. Only two appeals—related to a small area and some of the regulations related to trade areas—were approved. 

Five leaves to appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court have been applied for. Uusimaa ELY Centre's further appeal, which is targeted at both housing areas dominated by small houses and village areas not covered by a local detailed plan and all nature reserves’ regulations, constitutes a significant part of the local master plan. The majority of these areas have been similarly designated in the valid 2007 local master plan, but the new local master plan consists of several supplements to the nature-reserve network. In addition to ELY, the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation (FANC), and three landowners have submitted appeals.   

The 2020 local master plan is a long-term plan with which the city guides the development of its land use in the direction desired. The target year is 2050. The key policies of the local master plan are directing growth inward by reforming and bolstering the present urban structure. Inward growth requires development of a public transport city. Inward growth will make it possible to mostly retain the current green-area network and to increase nature reserves. In the future, too, Vantaa will be a green, versatile city, since only about a half of the areas designated by the local master plan comprise built areas, and about a half of the built areas are housing areas dominated by small houses.    

Jobs, knowhow and attractiveness are the themes of the new Growth and Viability program 

The city executive board will submit the new 2022-2025 Vantaa Growth and Viability program for the city council's ratification. The program is a continuation of the 2019-2021 Viability and Attractiveness program.  The new Growth and Viability program continues the goals of the previous program and will focus on improving the preconditions for creating jobs, increasing the employment rate in Vantaa, developing Vantaa knowhow, as well as improving Vantaa’s attractiveness from the perspectives of both businesses and residents. 

Goals, measures, responsible parties, partners, and schedules have been specified for all of the themes. An annually confirmed implementation plan will be compiled for executing the Growth and Viability program, and both the city executive board and the city council will be reported on the progress of the work. 

Jobs and housing units in Länsimäki, Finland's biggest event arena planned for Kivistö, and expanding Myyrmanni  

The city executive board ratified the disposition plan for Länsimäki and decided to submit the local detailed plans for Myyrmanni in Myyrmäki and Kivistö event arena for the city council's approval. In addition, a decision was made to make Asola’s new local detailed plan and the alteration to it available for public inspection.   

The Länsimäki disposition plan will focus on the development of downtown Länsimäki up to year 2045. The plan makes it possible for Länsimäki to gain around 2,700 new housing units, that is, 4,400 residents. Länsimäki’s population could rise up to 10,000. There could be around 100 new jobs, mostly connected with services offered to residents. New building will take place especially along Länsimäentie, which—thanks to Vantaa light rail—will become a new compact and cozy road lined with trees. Furthermore, the disposition plan designates extension of the residential area to the north, close to Porvoonväylä. Länsimäki is a green and easy-to-access residential area that has good local services and housing units suitable for families with children, teleworkers, and retirees. 

The local detailed plan for Kivistö event arena and the alteration to it will enable the 3.3 project: the multipurpose arena and hotel, as well as restaurant, store, sports, and office space. When completed, the project will have national significance as regards arranging international football matches, myriad cultural events, and concerts.  Sports and cultural events of all sizes will take place at the multipurpose arena. The football-match capacity will accommodate for approximately 17,000 audience places, whereas the capacity for concerts will be around 30,000 - 32,000 customers. 

Kiinteistö Oy Myyrmanni is applying for an increase in the business space within the current building to 2,300 km2, partly to the cellar level, as well as removal of the passage to Iskoskuja. Prisma and Lidl will have premises in the shopping mall. The northern and southern facades, and the gallery's glass ceiling, will be protected. The plan alteration will boost Myyrmäki's position as a commercial center. 

The Asola local detailed plan and the alteration to it will designate a new street area (Elmonkuja) between Asolanväylä and Elmo Sports Park’s car places by designating part of Haxberginmetsä outdoor recreation area as street area. Moreover, the local detailed plan will designate a commercial building block to the north of Valtimotie where the local detailed plan allows building of an at max. 2-story commercial building. The plan provisions will account for, for instance,  cityscape quality, the green factor, storm-water management, as well as the safety of pedestrian and cycling connections.