A magazine for Espoo residents 3-2020

theme
THE planned
i
area contains
expansive cultural
landscapes, numerous
lakes, rivers and
brooks, as well as
plenty of diverse
trails. For example,
the valley zone
surrounding River
Espoonjoki is indicated
with a specific
symbol on the map
of the local detailed
plan. A new Espoonjokilaakso
trail will
be built along the
river and the shores
of Lake Pitkäjärvi,
never leaving green
areas.
company to promote the planning process.
Espoo’s city rail link is part of this system,
although its implementation will require a
separate decision.
The Espoo–Salo direct line will have two
new stations for local rail services in Hista
and Myntinmäki, which will have their own
centres gradually built around them.
“Our goal is to have at least 90 per cent of
Espoo’s new residents along excellent public
transport connections. Obviously, this
will have an effect on the new land use plan.
Future service structures and energy solutions
will also be taken into account,” Leino
says.
This requires a great deal of investigation.
There are changes to the component
master plans continuously under way. Some
are currently being compiled for the areas
of Kiviruukki, Finnoo, Saaristo, Bergö and
Bodö. Part one of the master plan for the
northern parts of Espoo is the largest and
oldest master plan in force.
“We are focusing a great deal of investigative
work on this region, work that has not
been done previously. Already at the draft
stage, we carried out dozens of investigations
and now at the preparation stage we have
completed about thirty more,” says Head of
Research Ritva Helminen-Halkola.
The investigations have focused, for
example, on the region’s significant natural
and cultural environment. Because it is a
large area, its different parts vary a great deal
– there are both busy commercial centres
and unbuilt areas.
“Villages and rural areas present their
own problems. We have talked to farmers,
for example, and charted the routes their
farm machines take,” says Helminen-
Halkola who has led the investigations.
Even though the needs of the future are
taken into account in the master plan, the
main focus lies on what will be needed over
the next few years. After all, the plan can be
changed according to any needs that arise as
needed. Dialogue with the parties involved is
a key part of the planning process.
“The parties involved include businesses
and entrepreneurs, various authorities, the
third sector and, last but not least, the residents,
who total about 50,000 in this region,”
says Leino.
10 A magazine for Espoo residents