estonia-2030_en

Placing a premium on the values of low-density urbanised space underlies the preservation of Estonia’ssettlement, the result of a centuries-long evolution, in today’s world. In this low-density urbanisedspace, both rural areas and cities and towns are functioning well. Low-density urbanised spaceis the opposite of urban sprawl, where a city spills over its limits and does away with the spatial valuesof the city and its vicinity. In low-density urbanised space, both increasing the compactness of urbanspace and preserving the values of low-density settlement characteristic of Estonia are in the focalpoint of development, ultimately providing a high-quality and diverse living environment Estonia-wide.Compact, high-quality centres (cities and towns) with urban space provide the residents in theirdaily activity space 2 with services at good levels, jobs creating high added value and competitiveeducation. All these are readily available to the residents within their entire daily activity space. Citiesand towns with their neighbouring hinterland drive regional development and are at the core of theareas of their impact. Opportunities have been created for people to meet, interact and work togetheron a daily basis.Rural areas provide people with privacy of residence, the ability to cope regardless of external circumstancesand a natural living environment. Agriculture and forestry focused on environmentally cleanproduction provide more traditional jobs and ensure – along with well organised cultural and naturetourism – the preservation and sustainable utilisation of Estonia’s man-made landscapes and greennetwork. Access to jobs, services and educational institutions in centres and good data communicationsprovide good opportunities also for the growing urbanised portion of rural residents. The preservationof viable settlement in the countryside allows the various resources of the nation to beutilised better.Low-density space functions when good mobility facilities are provided. This allows people to mergetheir preferred living environment with a wide range of jobs, services and educational opportunities.To meet the increased mobility needs of people, the state has created sustainable and readily usablefacilities.Estonia’s good links, in all directions, with the external world by air, across water and overlandimprove the position of Estonia’s cities and towns in the international division of labour. The perceptibledecrease in distances across space and time encourages international interaction and cooperation,noticeably broadening people’s options in terms of work and leisure. Improved mobility facilitiesin all transport sectors contribute to much higher revenue being earned from international tourism.Sustainable, fast train services have created improved prospects for working with the centres inneighbouring nations.2 A substantive treatment of the concept is provided in subsection 3.3. “ Ensuring the availability of jobs,educational institutions and various services by means of linkage within and between daily activity spaces”.14