Östersundom planning

A partial local master plan is being drawn up for Östersundom. The most important issues to be resolved are the rail link and the related land use, green network, nature conservation areas and ecological links. The goal is for the partial local master plan proposal to be ready in 2025. Changes will also be made to the detailed plans of Landbo and the northern part of Karhusaari.
Östersundomin suunnittelualue kartalla.

Planning principles of the partial local master plan

The Östersundom area is being designed as a consistent whole based on the light rail line, with consideration for the green network and the most valuable nature areas. The aim is to make the area into a small town close to nature with robust rail transport.

The light rail line will mainly run along the Uusi Porvoontie road, connecting to Itäkeskus. New construction will primarily be located along the rail line and lean on existing infrastructure. The partial local master plan will preserve areas with the most significant natural values and indicate a comprehensive network of nature conservation areas.

The realisation of the area is tied to the rail transport decision, however, so large-scale construction will only take place in the long term. Until then, the focus will be on infill construction of existing areas with low-density housing, development of the network of green areas and outdoor recreation trails, and the construction of areas of employment.

Partial local master plan for Östersundom and changes to detailed plans

A partial local master plan identifies the area’s key community structure and focuses on issues that are central to the urban structure, such as housing, the location of workplaces and services, transport connections and the recreational and green network. The partial local master plan steers the detailed planning of the area.

The partial local master plan for Östersundom is being drawn up for an area that covers the major district of Östersundom and the part of the Mustavuori subdivision not subject to the Helsinki local master plan of 2016. In parallel with the work on the partial local master plan, the city is preparing changes to the detailed plan in the existing areas with low-density housing. Currently under way are changes to the detailed plan for Landbo and the northern part of Karhusaari.

Read more about the partial local master plan, detailed plan and other plan levels

Detailed planning of existing areas with low-density housing

The City of Helsinki is preparing changes to the detailed plan for the existing areas with low-density housing in parallel with the work on the partial local master plan. Currently under way are changes to the detailed plan for Landbo and the northern part of Karhusaari.

A detailed planning programme has been drawn up for the existing areas with low-density housing in Östersundom, specifying the areas where infill development will be possible before starting the project development committed to rail transport in Östersundom.

The areas included in the planning programme are established areas with detached housing and will mainly remain so in the future. Additional construction will require the development of water supply.

Even though the building prohibition is no longer in force, as a rule Helsinki’s unplanned areas can be considered to be action areas, meaning a building permit requires a positive decision on the need for planning. 

As a rule, positive decisions on the need for planning will only be made for the demolition of an existing residential building and its replacement by a new residential building.

Read more about the detailed planning schedule in the detailed planning programme for existing areas with low-density housing in Östersundom 2022 (PDF, In Finnish)

Frequently asked questions

The partial local master plan for Östersundom aims to prepare for population growth in Helsinki, steer the growth in a sustainable manner, increase the supply of diverse housing types, provide building sites for detached houses and balance the regional structure of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area towards the east.

There is no valid local master plan for the Östersundom area.

The municipalities of Helsinki, Vantaa and Sipoo drafted a joint local master plan for the Östersundom area in 2010–2018. However, the Supreme Administrative Court overturned the joint local master plan for Östersundom in 2021. A partial local master plan is now being prepared for the area. It is expected to be completed in 2025.

There is no longer a building prohibition in place in the Östersundom area due to the preparation of the partial local master plan. The building prohibition expired in May 2021 when the Supreme Administrative Court overturned the joint local master plan for Östersundom. An area in the northern part of Karhusaari is subject to a building prohibition due to the preparation of a detailed plan.  Even though the building prohibition is no longer in force, as a rule Helsinki’s unplanned areas can be considered to be action areas, meaning a building permit requires a positive decision on the need for planning. As a rule, positive decisions on the need for planning will only be made for the demolition of an existing residential building and its replacement by a new residential building.

Local master planning stages

  1. Start

    • Map survey 12/2021–1/2022 
    • New Östersundom online event 12/2021 
  2. Participation and assessment plan

    • Opinions 2/2022  
    • Online event 02/2022 
    • New eastern Helsinki online event 05/2022 
    • Online event 05/2022 
  3. Land use scenarios

    • Online survey 11-12/2022 
    • Workshop 11/2022
  4. Planning Principles of the local master plan

    • Opinions 9/2023
    • Discussion session 09/2023
    • Urban Environment Committee 2023
  5. Plan draft on deposit late in 2024

  6. Plan proposal on deposit 2025

Contact information

Name
Pasi Rajala

Title
Director of strategic urban planning

Name
Anne Karlsson

Title
Team leader, Local master plan

Name
Tuomas Lehtonen

Title
Urban planner

Name
Iiris Karvinen

Title
Urban planner

Name
Tuukka Linnas

Title
Team manager, Detailed planning